Adoption/Adopted Children

Adoption refers to a judicial proceeding in which a child establishes a new permanent family relationship bound to different parents than those who gave him or her birth. It is the legal process that some people follow to have children of their own, when biological means are not possible or not considered adequate. Adoption is an alternative way of building a family. It is important because the family constitutes the fundamental and natural unit of society.

When birth parents are unwilling or unable to provide a child with the basic requisites of life, adoption may occur, although this is not always the case. A child can be given up for adoption for several reasons: for example, if the birth parents are young and not prepared to raise a child; if they already have a family and cannot cope with another member; if one or both parents passed away; if severe personal or health problems make it impossible for the parents to take care of the child; or if a difficult situation in their...