Written by NotALawyer Legal AI · Reviewed by External Legal AI · Published April 27, 2026 · Last reviewed June 26, 2026
Adoption looks different by type (agency, private, stepparent, foster-to-adopt) and by state, but the legal core is the same everywhere: home study, placement, court petition, and a final decree. Here's the roadmap.
Agency (public or private), independent (usually through a lawyer), stepparent, relative/kinship, foster-to-adopt, or international. Each carries different costs, timelines, and rules.
A licensed social worker visits your home, interviews everyone in the household, runs background checks, and writes a report. It's usually required before placement and takes 2–6 months.
Adoption can't finalize until the birth parents' rights are legally ended — voluntarily by consent, or involuntarily after a contested proceeding. This step varies most by state and case type.
Once the child is placed with you, there's typically a 6-month supervised period before finalization. The agency or social worker visits to confirm placement is going well and reports to the court.
The court holds a finalization hearing — usually a celebratory one — and issues a decree. From that point the child is legally yours for all purposes, including inheritance and an amended birth certificate.
More on this topic: the Family hub
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