What is adoption?
Adoption is the lawful act of permanently admitting a child with a parent or parents other than the birth mother or father. In accordance to an adoption order a parent or parents are liable to transfer parental responsibilities and rights over the child onto the adoptive parent or parents. Once an adoption is finalized, there is no authorized distinction between adopted children and those born to the parents. According to adoption records adoption has gained persistent standing in American society.

Who adopts
At present, studies say that in the United States 1 in 5 couples of childbearing age encounter grave problems in trying to conceive a baby. For these people, being able to boast the joy of being a parent becomes a goal which is hard to pin down. They seek an adoption as a substantial alternate to their inability to ever become birth parents. Having a child to love and care for is what brings joy to millions of infertile couples around the world. Adoption is also undertaken by individuals and couples who wish to give an orphan child the love and importance of a parent in their poignant lives.

Adoption in the United States
1992 was the end year National Adoption totals were collected in the USA, however adoption records from foster care homes and other non-government bodies allows us to get a rough estimate on the numbers. Back then 127,000 annual adoptions in the U.S was recorded. As of 2002, United States consisted of 1.5 million adopted, which was over 2% of all US Children. Adoptive parents have to pay virtually nothing to US$40,000 to adopt a child.

In recent years International Adoption through agencies has also become very popular in the United States. Amid 1971 and 2001, U.S. citizens adopted 265,677 children from other countries. The figure of children pending adoption decreased from 132,000 to 118,000 during 2000 to 2004.

In 2005 the U.S. Department of State declared that 22,728 visas were given to orphans coming into the United States, 7,906 being from China(Mainland), followed by Russia with 4,639 and Guatemala 3,783.

Adoption law vary from state to state, and federal laws also influence many procedures prior and after, connected with the adoption record process. It is important that placing and adopting parents, as well as those looking for family members are aware of legislations beforehand.