Search Results for: adoption adopted persons adoptees

Adoption and Inheritance, Part Two

My last blog addressed the issue of inheritance rights between adopted persons and their adoptive parents and relatives. This blog addresses the issue of inheritance rights between birth parents (and their relatives) and their birth children who were adopted by other families. Bear in mind that these laws apply to the estates of those who die without making out a will specifying who they wish to inherit their assets. As I wrote in the last blog, state laws do change, and I am not an attorney. Much of the facts I use here are taken from the Encyclopedia of Adoption, … Continue reading →

Book Review: Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children

At adoption conferences and web forums, one hears a lot from adopted persons and from parents wondering how to raise their newly-adopted children. Rarely, however, do you hear from adoptive parents whose children are now grown. (Presumably they no longer feel a burning need to attend conferences.) Cheri Register, author of the classic adoption book Are Those Kids Yours? supplies some of that perspective in her newest book, Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children. It is quite a different book than Register’s last book on adoption. Are Those Kids Yours? Was more personal, sharing some … Continue reading →

Sending Countries Reach Out to International Adoptees

Lately I’ve been thinking some thoughts which would be considered quite un-politically correct in the adoption world. They refer to efforts by sending countries to reach out to international adoptees. In the past, adoption has sometimes been a shameful thing. Unwed mothers are discriminated against in employment and socially; children are teased and discriminated against educationally. Yet women who relinquish children for adoption are condemned for “turning against their own flesh and blood”. I have met both immigrants and visitors who are surprised—shocked in fact–to learn that their home countries have fairly large and long-standing adoption programs sending children to … Continue reading →

Book Review: Making Sense of Adoption by Lois Ruskai Melina

Lois Melina’s Making Sense of Adoption is unique in that it deals with questions asked not only by adoptees from traditional adoptions, but by children and young people conceived using assisted reproduction techniques such as egg or sperm donation or surrogacy. These persons also, whether a legal adoption proceeding took place or not, must deal with knowing that they either have genetic parents who are not the parents raising them, or that they were born to someone other than their birthmothers. Melina, an adoptive parent of two, is the author of Raising Adopted Children and has been a frequent writer … Continue reading →

Book Review: Cultures of Transnational Adoption

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Cultures of Transnational Adoption, edited by Toby Alice Volkman, illuminates unique and infrequently heard dimensions of adoption. These nine essays include an account by a translator for a group of adoptees making a return visit to Chile from their adopted home country of Sweden (I knew there were Korean-Swedish adoptees, but never knew that Chile was a main sending country to Sweden from 1974-1991). There is a substantive and fascinating essay on young adult Korean adoptees returning to Korea for “cultural learning tours” often sponsored by the Korean government. The author shares the adoptees’ diverse opinions on whether they felt … Continue reading →

Adoption Search Glossary

When you are beginning an adoption search, things can seem confusing and intimidating. You will come across all types of red tape, unhelpful people and doors slammed in your face. However, remain strong. Do a little research beforehand to know what problems you might face each step of the way. One of the first things I learned was that terminology was totally different for an adoption case than any other situation. I had no idea what the difference between my original birth certificate and my amended certificate was. I also had no idea what or who a triad was. I … Continue reading →