adoption

Permanent legal transfer of parental rights and duties from one person to another, usually to provide care for children who would otherwise lack family upbringing.

State laws determine processes for adoption, rights of adoptees (such as access to information about natural parents), and inheritance rights. See also custody of children.

The US government announced in April 1999 that it would create a national Internet site containing photographs and information about children awaiting adoption. It is anticipated that the site would be completed by 2001 when the number of children needing homes is expected to double or triple from the 1999 figure of about 8,000.

In February 2001, the Child Citizenship Act became effective, making about 75,000 adopted children citizens. The law grants automatic citizenship to children born in another country if they are under the age of 18 and have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a US citizen.