Welcome to the Adoption section of FindLaw's Family Law Center, providing legal and practical information related to adoption, including an adoption guide and state-specific information. To begin, please select one of the following:

• Adoption Basics - Introductory information on adoption, including a glossary of adoption terms and a look at parties involved in the adoption process.

• Types of Adoption - Agency versus private adoptions, differences between open and closed adoptions, and more.

• Guide to Adopting a Child - A step-by-step guide to each phase of the adoption process.

• Parenting Issues for Adoptive Parents - Tips for parents of adopted children, including psychological aspects of adoption.

• International Adoption - Information and legal considerations for adopting a child from another country.

• Adoption and Same-Sex Couples - A look at adoption and parenting issues for gay and lesbian couples.

• State Adoption Laws - Links to adoption laws in all 50 states, from a number of sources.

• Get Help Now - Finding, meeting with, and hiring an attorney to help with the adoption process.

• Resources - Adoption organizations, government information on adoption, and more.

You can access these topics throughout this Adoption section via the links in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Also, be sure to use the "Browse" box on the left side of every page, as it contains links to additional information for each topic.