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 York State, adoption is governed by Domestic Relations Law. The process allows an individual or couple to legally assume parental rights and responsibilities for a child, thereby terminating the legal rights of the child's biological parents. The adoptive parents become legally responsible for the child's welfare, including health, safety, and financial support. To adopt a child in New York, prospective adoptive parents must go through a rigorous legal process that includes a home study, background checks, and court proceedings. The adoption is finalized in court, where a judge issues an order of adoption. This process ensures that the adoption is in the best interests of the child. There are several types of adoption available in New York, including agency adoption, private placement adoption, international adoption, and adoption by a step-parent or relative. Each type of adoption may have specific requirements and procedures that must be followed.