What are the differences between adoption and guardianship?

In Washington, adoption and guardianship are two different legal ways to care for a minor child. Adoption is a legal relationship created between the adoptive parent and the child, and the legal bond between the child and their biological parents is terminated when the adoption is finalized. Guardianship is a legal relationship created between an individual, known as the guardian, and the child, but the legal bond between the child and their biological parents is not severed. When it comes to an adoption, the adoptive parent will become legally responsible for making decisions on behalf of the child in areas such as education, health care, religion, and more. The adoptive parent will be a permanent legal parent to the child and has all the same rights as the biological parent. With guardianship, the guardian will become responsible for making decisions on behalf of the child but typically not in areas such as religion or education. The guardian will be a legal guardian to the child and will have certain rights and responsibilities. The guardianship is temporary and can be terminated by either the court or the parents. Adoption is a permanent solution, while guardianship is usually a temporary arrangement. In an adoption, the adoptive parents will become the legal parents of the child, while the guardian is merely responsible for taking care of the child’s needs. Adoptions involve the termination of the legal bond between the child and their biological parents, while guardianship does not.

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