Legal Definitions - identified adoption

Identified adoption is a type of private adoption where the birth parents choose the adoptive parents for their child. It falls under the broader category of adoption, which is the legal process of creating a parent-child relationship between two parties who are not biologically related.

Adoption is usually granted after a determination that the child is an orphan, has been abandoned, or the parents' parental rights have been terminated by court order. The adoptive parents assume all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a biological parent.

For example, if a birth mother chooses a couple to adopt her child, that would be an identified adoption. The birth mother and adoptive parents may have a pre-existing relationship or may have found each other through an adoption agency.

It's important to note that adoption is different from legitimation, which refers to the act of establishing a legal relationship between a parent and a child who is already biologically related. Adoption is also different from fostering, which is a temporary arrangement where a child is placed in the care of a foster family.

Overall, identified adoption is a way for birth parents to have more control over the adoption process and choose the family they want to raise their child.