Stuff to Blog About and More: Information on Adoption

Today is National Adoption Day

Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. Adoption results in the severing of the parental responsibilities and rights of the biological parents and the placing of those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parents. After the finalization of an adoption, there is little or no legal difference between biological and adopted children.

Different jurisdictions have varying laws on adoption and post-adoption. Some practice confidential or closed adoption, preventing further contact between the adopted person and the biological parents, while others have varying degrees of open adoption, which may allow such contact.

The most common form of adoption is by a stepparent who assumes financial and legal responsibility for his/her spouse's child(ren), and the non-custodial parent is released from all parenting responsibilities. Procedures are generally simpler than for other types of adoption. However, stepparent adoption law varies from state to state. Relative adoptions, such as a grandparent adopting a grandchild, are also treated less formally than non-relative adoptions in most states. If you are considering adopting a stepchild or a child related to you, you may wish to contact a licensed attorney. You may also wish to locate your state or county court for more information on adoption procedures in your state.

The Child Welfare and Information Gateway (CWIG) is an excellent resource for information on adoption. The CWIG is a service of the Children's Bureau (CB). The CB is one of two bureaus within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This agency promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families by connecting child welfare, adoption and related professionals as well as concerned citizens to timely, essential information.

You may wish to contact the CWIG by phone at 1-800-394-3366 or 1-703-385-7565.

You may also wish to visit these online resources for more information:

Finally, additional resources are available:

National Adoption Center (NAC) - You can reach them by calling 1-800-TO-ADOPT (1-800-862-3678).
National Foster Care and Adoption Directory Search - To locate an adoption agency near you.
AdoptUsKids
USA.gov's Parenting Resources
November is National Adoption Month
November 15, 2008, is National Adoption Day

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FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.