| Adoption Under the Indian Child Welfare Act |
| |
| Whenever a proposed adoption involves a child who is of recognized Native American lineage, both federal and state laws govern the proceeding. The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) is applicable to any adoption of a Native American child. The ICWA is not an adoption code, but it contains jurisdictional, procedural, and substantive provisions that pertain to adoptions. Pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, ICWA provisions supplement or parallel any compatible state adoption laws and preempt any inconsistent or contradictory ones. More... |
| |
| Child Citizenship Act of 2000 - Obtaining a Passport for a Child |
| |
| Some children who are born outside of the United States may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. However, no proof of citizenship will be issued to the child's biological or adoptive parents unless such proof is requested. Parents may obtain proof of citizenship for their child by applying for a Certificate of Citizenship from the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In the alternative, the parents may apply for a passport for the child from the United States Department of State.More... |
| |
| Misuse of Adoption Affecting Economic Rights |
| |
| Courts generally prohibit parties from using the adoption process to achieve purposes that would have a detrimental economic effect on the children involved. An attempt by a birth parent to adopt his or her own children for the purpose of terminating the other birth parent's relationship with the children is a misuse of adoption. Also, an agreement to release birth parents from support obligations in exchange for their consent to an adoption is a misuse of adoption. More... |
| |
| Child Abuse |
| |
| Child abuse consists of any act or omission of an act that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. The severity of the abuse can range from mild to severe in nature. Millions of children are the victims of child abuse each year. There are various people who commit child abuse; most often it is the child's parent, caregiver, or family member. There are several different types of child abuse. More... |
| |
| Confidentiality and Juvenile Court Records |
| |
| Almost every state has a law that prohibits to some degree public access to juvenile court records. Each state has statutes establishing the right of access to records created during juvenile delinquency proceedings.
More... |
| |
