What are the different types of adoption in the US?

Adoption in the US comes in a variety of forms and can offer a range of family building opportunities. The most common forms of adoption in the US include private domestic infant adoptions, international adoptions, stepparent adoptions, adult adoptions, and foster care adoptions. Private domestic infant adoptions are the most traditional form of adoption and involve the placement of a child through an agency or lawyer and birth parents. These adoptions can be either open or closed, depending on the wishes of the birth parents. The adoptive parents are responsible for the financial cost of the adoption process. International adoptions involve the adoption of a child from another country. The adoptive parents must meet the adoption requirements of the sending country as well as the receiving US state. Stepparent adoptions involve the adoption of a child by a stepparent. This is a more common form of adoption when a parent remarries and the new spouse wishes to become the legal guardian of the child. Adult adoptions involve the adoption of an adult (18 years or older). These adoptions are often done to formalize a parent-child relationship or to provide inheritances to the adoptive child. Lastly, foster care adoptions involve the adoption of a child from the foster care system. These adoptions are often facilitated through the state or county and can offer many benefits to both the foster child and the adoptive family. In Nebraska, all adoption processes must comply with state laws and regulations as determined by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Prospective adoptive parents must be qualified and deemed fit to raise a child in order to pursue an adoption.

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