Adoption is the legal process in which a person assumes responsibility for the health, safety, well-being, and financial support of another person—usually a child—and terminates the rights and responsibilities of the adopted person’s biological parent or parents.
In New Hampshire, adoption is a legal process governed by RSA 170-B, the New Hampshire Adoption Act. This process allows an individual or a couple to become the legal parents of a child, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with parenthood. The process involves terminating the legal rights of the child's biological parents and transferring those rights to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents then assume full legal responsibility for the child's care and well-being. The process requires a petition to be filed in court, and it typically involves home studies, background checks, and sometimes post-placement supervision to ensure the child's best interests are being met. The court will finalize the adoption by issuing a decree of adoption, after which the adoptive parents have the same legal relationship with the child as if they were the child's biological parents. It's important to note that adoption laws can be complex, and working with an attorney experienced in adoption law is often recommended to navigate the process.