Adoptions in Nova Scotia fall into two major categories.
The first is the adoption of a child who is in the care of the Department of Community Services. Adoption of these children is done in co-ordination with and under the approval of the Department.
The second category is a private relative adoption of a child by either a relative or a step parent. This type of adoption requires the original parent(s) rights to be terminated by consent or other order of the court.
Both types of adoption provide new parents to love a support a child. The child’s legal status changes so that it is if they were born to their new parents with all of the rights which would have been theirs by birth. Often, the child will take on a new surname as part of the adoption.
The age of the child will determine how much direct involvement the child has with the process and whether the Department of Community Services needs to approve of the adoption.
For more information on adoptions, give us a call, or review the information available through the Goverment of Nova Scotia at Adoption | Nova Scotia Department of Community Services