Child Adoption by Relatives

There are many reasons you may be considering adopting a child from a member of your family or placing your own child with one of your relatives. Below we have listed information on how to get started.

In some state both the maternal and paternal grandparents have legal rights related to their grandchild even if the child is being placed for adoption.  A review of the child adoption laws of your state may help answer questions you have about grandparents' rights in a child adoption. You may also want to visit The Grandparents Rights Organization, The American Association of Retired Persons, and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights.

Relatives other than a grandparent may also have rights regarding a child adoption and many states give priority for a child adoption placement to relatives.  Additionally, if a child has been placed from foster care with a relative, that relative is usually given preference for a permanent placement or adoption if the child can not be returned to the biological parents. However, each state uses a different definition to identify what it means to be a "relative".

For additional information on this topic please visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway article Placement of Children with Relatives.  To review the adoption laws in your state of residence or other state please visit the link State Adoption Laws or visit the website ChildAdoptionLaws.com.

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