When you are beginning an adoption search, things can seem confusing and intimidating. You will come across all types of red tape, unhelpful people and doors slammed in your face.
However, remain strong. Do a little research beforehand to know what problems you might face each step of the way.
One of the first things I learned was that terminology was totally different for an adoption case than any other situation. I had no idea what the difference between my original birth certificate and my amended certificate was. I also had no idea what or who a triad was.
I compiled this Adoption Search Glossary to help you understand the different words, paperwork and other items you will come across in your search. Please take some time to learn them, so when you are faced with your search, you have the knowledge to answer questions or step around that red tape.
Adoptee – A person who has been adopted. Most adoptees prefer this term rather than “adopted child” which sounds more like a child who never grows up.
Adoption – This refers to the legal process which transfers parental rights from the biological parent to the adoptive parent.
Adoption Decree – The legal document filed upon finalization of an adoption. This changes the child’s birth name to the adopting families name. It also makes the child the legal child of the adoptive parents.
Adoptive Parent – The person or persons who legally assume parental rights for a child.
Agency Adoption – An adoption handled and coordinated by a licensed state or private social service agency. They usually require detailed records of everyone involved.
Birth Certificates
Original – The Legal document issued at birth identifying the birth family and the adoptees original name. It is usually sealed in the court records when the adoption is complete or finalized.
Amended – This is a document issued when the adoption is finalized, replacing the original with adoptive information and becomes the adoptee’s legal birth certificate.
Birth Family – All genetic or blood relatives – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.
Birth Parent – Refers to the birth mother or birth father. The person(s) who helped conceive and/or gave birth to a child and subsequently relinquished his legal parental rights.
Black Market Adoption – An illegal practice in which a child is transferred from the family of birth to an adoptive family. Records may be falsified and large sums of money are usually paid. Also known as the practice of buying and selling children.
Contact – Communication at the end of a search via written letters, telephone conversations and reunions.
Court of Jurisdiction – The court or legal entity which presided over the adoption who typically maintains control over all court-related documents. Many states have more than one of these.
Custody – Immediate charge and control exercised by a person or an authority.
Documentation – Evidence or proof gathered during the search process… (names, dates, addresses, telephone numbers, records, etc.)
Foster Care – A long or short term parental care arrangement for a child without a legal transfer of rights.
Foundling – An abandoned child of unknown parents,
Gray Market Adoption – An independent or private adoption, illegal in some states, usually arranged through an attorney, a doctor, or a minister. Gray market adoptions often operate on the edge of legality, sidestepping the stringent regulations set up for agency adoptions.
Guardian – Person who is legally entrusted with the care of someone else’s child.
Independent/Private Adoptions – An adoption arranged by a doctor, lawyer, or between the birth family and adoptive parents.
Intermediary System – Also known as “Search and Consent” in some states. This is a system mandated by law in which a qualified intermediary is authorized to locate and contact an adoption triad individual on behalf of another person within that particular triad.
Non-Identifying Information – This is all background data on all parties to an adoption, which cannot allow direct identification. In other words anything but full names and locations. This is any information that cannot allow a searcher to directly identify or locate the person they are looking for.
Open Adoption – This is when all parties to the adoption, the child, the birth family and the adoptive family have knowledge of each other and maintain an ongoing communication with each other regarding the child’s welfare.
Open Placement – This is similar to open adoption, but differs in that only the birth parents and and adoptive parents meet only at the time of placement, usually only exchanging first names. No effort is made to create an open relationship which will continue as the child matures.
Open Records – Unrestricted access by all members of the4 adoption triad to adoption related information on each other. Only a few states make this practice available.
Orphan – A child deprived by death of one or usually both parents.
Petition – 1) A formal request by the prospective adoptive parents to the court of jurisdiction for legal custody and full guardianship of a child. 2) The process of applying to a court or governmental body for access to the adoption records.
Reunion – The bringing together of parties separated by adoption.
Reunion Registry – Also known as Mutual Consent Registry. A system through which individual triad members may register in hope of being matched with others from their families of birth who have or will also register.
Sealed Records – Documents or files restricted by law or policy from view and/or duplication by the public.
Search – The process of investigation and documentation that leads to the location or knowledge of separated family members.
Surrender/Relinquishment – When the birth parents sign documents terminating their parental rights and responsibilities for the child.
Triad – The three categories of individuals directly involved in an adoption – the birth parents, the adoptee, and the adoptive parents.