Legal Definitions - direct-placement adoption

Direct-placement adoption is a type of adoption where birth parents place their child directly with an adoptive family, without the involvement of an adoption agency. This is also known as private adoption.

Adoption is the legal process of creating a parent-child relationship between two parties who are not related by blood. This relationship is established by a court order and gives the adoptive parents all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a biological parent.

Direct-placement adoption is different from agency adoption, where an adoption agency matches birth parents with adoptive families. In direct-placement adoption, the birth parents choose the adoptive family themselves.

For example, if a birth mother decides to place her child for adoption, she may choose to do a direct-placement adoption and find a family through her own network or online. The adoptive family would then work with an attorney to complete the legal process of adoption.

Another example is if a couple is unable to have children and decides to adopt. They may choose to do a direct-placement adoption and work with an attorney to find a birth mother who is looking to place her child for adoption.

Overall, direct-placement adoption is a way for birth parents and adoptive families to have more control over the adoption process and to work together to create a loving and stable home for a child.