Question:

How can legal guardianship be used in place of adoption?

The Guardianship Alternative

Children whose parents are unwilling or unable to raise them deserve safe homes where they can receive love and care without sacrificing their identities. Legal guardianship allows both extended family members and compassionate strangers to take custody of a child in need. Unlike adoption, guardianship has no provisions for altering the child's original name or birth certificate; caregivers are not the legal equivalent of parents, though they are able to make decisions on the child's behalf. Guardians can be required to maintain contact between the child and his or her natural family whenever possible, and the arrangement can be re-evaluated if those involved feel that it no longer suits the child's best interests. The legal process for guardianship is much less expensive than adoption.

Adoption Frequently Asked Questions

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Recent Adoption Questions

Q. I`m 40 and my husband is 48. Can we adopt?
A. Click for the Answer

Q. Hello,
We just started the process to adopt a baby and were recommended by our lawyer to get adoption insurance; I contacted a couple of companies but none of them offer it anymore. Do you know where to go for it? We live in South Florida.
Thanks,
C. Kuster
A. Click for the Answer

Q. fifteen years ago, I was arrested for possession of marijuana. Will this prevent me from adopting a child?
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