An adopted daughter is a child who has been legally placed under the care and guardianship of adoptive parents, becoming their legal child. This means the biological parents have relinquished their parental rights, and the adoptive parents assume all legal responsibilities and rights associated with parenthood. The relationship is legally and socially equivalent to that of a biological daughter.
Understanding Adoption
Adoption is a legal process that permanently transfers parental rights and responsibilities from birth parents to adoptive parents. This process establishes a permanent parent-child relationship, granting the adoptive parents the same legal rights and responsibilities as biological parents. (Source: An adopted child has been legally taken by another family to be taken care of as their own child - SMART Vocabulary; Adoption is a legal process which permanently gives parental rights to adoptive parents - CDSS.CA.GOV)
- Legal implications: Adoption legally establishes the child as a member of the adoptive family. The adoptive parents have the right to make decisions regarding the child's upbringing, education, and healthcare. Conversely, the adopted child has the legal rights and protections afforded to all children within their family. (Source: An adopted child has been legally taken by another family to be taken care of as their own child - SMART Vocabulary; Adopted: having been adopted: such as a of a child : legally made the son or daughter of someone other than a biological parent - Merriam-Webster)
- Social implications: Society generally recognizes adopted children as full members of their adoptive families. While the child's biological origins might be acknowledged, the primary family unit is considered to be the adoptive family. (Source: What does it mean when your adopted mom calls you her daughter... Shouldn't she call you her adopted daughter instead of just calling you her daughter, period? - Quora)
Variations and Nuances
- Open vs. Closed Adoption: Adoption can be open, meaning some level of contact is maintained between the birth family and the adoptive family, or closed, with limited or no contact.
- Domestic vs. International Adoption: The process differs depending on whether the child is adopted within the same country or internationally. (Source: Bringing Your Internationally Adopted Child to the United States... - USCIS; U.S. Citizenship for an Adopted Child - USCIS)
Examples
- A couple who cannot have biological children adopts a baby girl, who then becomes their adopted daughter.
- A single person adopts a child, who becomes their adopted daughter.
- A family with biological children adopts another child, who becomes their adopted daughter.
