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 South Dakota, adoption is governed by state statutes that outline the legal process by which an individual or couple can become the legal parents of a child, thereby assuming all responsibilities for the child's welfare. This process terminates the legal rights and responsibilities of the child's biological parents. South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) detail the requirements for adoption, including home studies, consent from the biological parents (unless their rights have been terminated due to specific reasons), and the child's consent if they are of a certain age. The adoption process typically involves filing a petition with the court, followed by a hearing to determine the best interests of the child. Once an adoption is finalized by a court order, the adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as if the child were born to them, and the child gains inheritance rights and other legal rights associated with being a member of the adoptive family.