Federal Laws Related to Adoption

Federal laws provide overarching standards with which State adoption laws must comply. New Federal legislation generally obligates States to enact new laws. In some cases of intercountry adoption, international treaty requirements regulate adoption as a result of the United States becoming party to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Convention). This international treaty implements safeguards for all parties in adoptions involving countries that have joined the Convention.

In this section you will find links to Federal laws relating to adoption. Resources include summaries of major Federal legislation that has influenced adoption practice, listed with the most recently enacted law first.

Domestic laws

Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Series Title Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
Download (PDF - 453KB)
Year Published 2019
Presents a summary of Federal legislation since 1974 that has had a significant impact on the child welfare field. It provides an overview of each act and its major provisions. To browse or search the summaries of acts included in this publication, visit the Major Federal Legislation Index and Search. The full text of the acts included in this publication can be found on Information Gateway's Index of Federal Child Welfare Laws. The PDF version presents an overview of the legislative history of the included acts. For a Spanish summary of the text related to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 included in this publication, see Ley de 2008 Sobre el Promover de las Conexiones Para Lograr el Éxito y el Aumento de las Adopciones: Un Resumen.

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Intercountry adoption laws

Child Citizenship Act of 2000
U.S. Department of State
Provides information about this law, which allows certain foreign-born adopted people to become automatic U.S. citizens when they entered the United States, eliminating the legal burden of naturalization for intercountry adoptions.

Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-279)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Describes the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, which implements the Hague Adoption Convention in the United States. Intercountry Adoption: Laws
U.S. Department of State
Provides information about laws governing intercountry adoption.

Intercountry Adoption: Laws
U.S. Department of State
Provides information about laws governing intercountry adoption.