Difference between revisions of "Adopting Children"

There are two kinds of adoption: adoption within a family unit by a relative or stepparent with the consent of the natural parent; and, adoption by a stranger through an agency. The first kind can be handled privately through the court process. The second kind requires either the involvement of the [http://www.bcadoption.com Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia], a contractor of the provincial Ministry for Children and Family Development, in the case of children in the care of the government, or the use of licensed adoption agency in the case of children not in government care. A list of the four adoption agencies licensed in British Columbia is provided at the end of this section.

The provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84g5 Adoption Act]'' sets out the rules that guide parents and the courts through the adoption process. As in all matters involving children, the courts are primarily concerned with the best interests of the child, and s. 3 of the act sets a number of factors that should be considered in determining what is in the child's best interests.