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What is a second-parent adoption?

The definition of second parent adoption is that a child who already has one parent with parental rights is adopted by another parent, without terminating the existing parental rights. For example: if Joe is already Ann’s parent, and Sue wants to adopt Ann without terminating Joe’s rights, then a second parent adoption would be used. In a second parent adoption, both the existing parent and the ‘second’ parent will have legal guardianship and rights to the child.

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What is an open adoption?

Open adoption means that a birth parent and a child may continue to have contact, even after the birth parent gives her parental rights to the adoptive parent; or that a child will have the right to know who his or her biological parents are.

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What is step parent adoption?

A step parent adoption is a situation in which a step parent adopts the child of his current spouse. Step parent adoptions are generally a straightforward process, provided there is parental consent for the adoption.

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