| A | B |
|---|
| adult adoption | A type of adoption which may be employed only when the person adopting and the person to be adopted each have attained majority. |
| agency adoption | An adoption proceeding where the father and/or mother have relinquished the child to a licensed adoption agency for placement. |
| birth parent | Person who is the biological natural parent. |
| alleged father | Person who alleges that he is, or alleged to be, the biological parent of a child. |
| step-parent adoption | An adoption in which a a stepparent is the petitioner and one natural or adoptive parent retains his or her custody and control of the child. |
| dependent child | When a child is a ward of the court and the court has terminated the child's parents' rights. |
| independent adoption | An adoption in which the child to be adopted is placed by its parent or parents, who consent to the child's adoption by specific individuals. |
| intercountry adoption | Adoption of a foreign-born child for whom federal law makes a special immigration visa available; includes completion of the adoption in the child's native country or adoption in California. |
| joinder | Joining or uniting together. A joinder of parties is bringing in a new person who joins together either as a plaintiff or defendant. |
| presumed father | A man is presumed to be the natural father if he and the child's mother are to have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage. |
| special needs child | A child with a handicap or some medical problem that requires special attention. |
