ADOPTION

Binalingbing, Maria Angela L.

Definition
Adoption
 is a juridical act creating a relationship
between two persons, whether related or
not, whereby a person (adopted) is raised
to the status of a legitimate child of the
other (adopter). (The Family Code of the Philippines)
 An adoption order has the effect of
severing the parental responsibilities and
rights of the birth parents and transferring
those responsibilities and rights onto the
adoptive parents.

After the finalization of an adoption, there is

no legal difference between adopted
children and those born to the parents.
Aims and Purpose of Adoption
 to supply solace to those who have no
children or to those who lost them
 social and moral purpose: to extend to the
orphan or to the child of the indigent, the
incapacitated or the sick, the protection of
the society in the person of the adopter
 for infertile couples to fulfill their
generativity
Reasons for Adoption
Adoptive Parents
 infertility or inability to reproduce
biologically
 lack of a partner of the opposite sex or a
lack of desire to use a surrogate or sperm
donor (single people and same sex
couple)
 following divorce or death of one parent
(step-parent adoption)
 to avoid contributing to perceived
overpopulation
 to avoid passing on inheritable diseases

Birth family
 they are unable to adequately care for the
child
 due to maltreatment by their birth parents
 birth parents are not in the position to
raise a child, doing so would interfere with
their future plans and goals, gender
preference, or societal stigma towards
single parenthood
Types of Adoption (by effect on the
parties involved)
Open adoption
 is where the adopted person has access
to their file and/or original records
 where birth parents decide that they
would like to meet the adoptive parents
before they choose to place their baby
with them
Semi-open adoption
 the birth parents may meet the adoptive
parents one or several times and then
have no more physical contact
Closed adoptions
 non-identifying information is shared
between the parties involved, such as
medical history, up to the point of
placement. After the adoption is legalized,
no further information is shared between
the adoptive and birth parents
Types of adoption (by location and
origin)
Domestic adoption
 is the placement of a child for adoption
within the country in which he or she was
born and normally resides
Foster care adoption
 is a type of domestic adoption where the
child is initially placed into a foster care
system and is subsequently placed for
adoption
intra-family adoption
 occurs when a child is adopted by an
existing close family member and/or his or
her partner
International adoption
 is the placing of a child for adoption
outside that child’s country of birth
Who may adopt?
Qualifications of the Adopter:
 must be of legal age
 must have full civil capacity and legal
rights
 must be of good moral character
 must not have been convicted of a crime
involving moral turpitude
 must be emotionally and psychologically
capable of caring for children
 must be at least 16 years older than the
adoptee
 capable of supporting and caring for his
own children
The general rule is that, the adopter if
married, must adopt jointly with his or her
spouse
Who to adopt?
OLDER CHILD BABY
Many older children in Form valuable
need of homes-shorter attachment or bond
wait
Know birth parents- Grow-up with your child
helpful in handling
child’s grief
Done with baby stuff More teaching
opportunities
Adoption after infertility
their focus begins to shift away from
pregnancy - emotionally and physically –
sense of relief
 over time there is a lessening of envy and
angry feelings toward others who are
pregnant or have children
 the joy of adoption also brings with it an
unexpected healing
Ethical Principles Applied:
 Stewardship
 Beneficence