Q: A little girl I know just lost both of her parents. I’ve discussed her situation with my family, and we’d like to adopt her. How can we do this?

A: For any adoption to take place, two things must occur: The parents or legal guardians of the child must give their consent in a manner determined by state law (termination of parental rights), and the prospective adoptive parents must be found eligible and suited to adopt (through a homestudy conducted by a licensed social worker). Because laws concerning both processes differ significantly from state to state, your first step should be to consult a local adoption agency or adoption attorney.

Find an agency or an attorney using our adoption directory.