This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about adoption in Pennsylvania.Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Adoption Information and Forms
Forms and general information from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network about the adoption process, post adoption information and available forms.
Local Forms and Self-Help Information
For local forms and information for your county, click the title to see the SELF-HELP FORMS AND INFORMATION sub-topic. Counties are listed alphabetically after some generally applicable forms or you can set your location on the page to see only forms applicable for that location.
Adoption
Adoption Chapter of the Family Law Handbook published by North Penn Legal Services. (2021)
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Reproductive Health
Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project on issues relating to reproductive health including birth control, disease prevention and contraception; pregnancy and teen parenting; counseling; adoption; and abortion.
Adoption
Information on adoption from the Erie County Bar Association. (February 2019)
Same Sex Relationships
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on legal rights and options for individuals engaged in a same sex relationship in Pennsylvania. (2019)
Adoption
Information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on the intercountry adoption process, where U.S. Citizens adopt children from overseas.
Adoption Information
Resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Child Welfare Information Gateway on all aspects of domestic and intercountry adoption, including adoption from foster care. Includes information for prospective and adoptive parents; information about searching for birth relatives; and resources for professionals on recruiting adoptive families, preparing children and youth, supporting birth parents, and providing postadoption services.
Adoption in Pennsylvania
The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) is a partnership among the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange, public and private adoption agencies, organizations, advocates, judges, the legal community, and foster and adoptive parents. The network is administered by DHS through a prime contractor. As the mission statement reflects, the purpose is to build a better collaborative adoption process in Pennsylvania.
AdoptUSKids.org
AdoptUSKids.org is a national photo listing service for children awaiting adoption across the United States.
Be an Adoptive Parent
Information from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network on how to begin the adoption process.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The Child Welfare Information Gateway connects professionals and concerned citizens to timely, essential information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Eight Steps To Adoption
General information from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network to help you understand the steps involved in adopting a child.
Frequently Asked Questions - Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN)
Listing of the most commonly asked questions about the adoption process from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN).
Intercountry Adoptions
An overview of resources, materials and immigration benefits available to prospective adoptive parents of foreign-born orphans from the U.S. Department of State (June 2022).
National Foster Care & Adoption Directory Search
The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory (formerly the National Adoption Directory) offers adoption and foster care resources by State.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released this series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts.
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry
The Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry is a medical and social history database maintained by the Department of Human Services for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth relatives who would like to share or obtain medical or social history about themselves or their birth relatives.
Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network
The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) is both a broad-based cooperative effort and a centralized information and facilitation service funded and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. SWAN includes county children and youth agencies, juvenile court judges, foster and adoptive parents, private adoption agencies, the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange and many others, all working together on behalf of children who need permanent homes.
Related Organizations - Child Welfare Information Gateway
This webpage from the Child Welfare Information Gateway contains lists that provide contact information and websites for related national and State organizations that offer information about child welfare, including information on adoption, child abuse and neglect, child welfare, or related issues.
Search and Reunion - Adoptions
This webpage from the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information for adoptees and their birth parents and relatives who were separated by adoption and who decide to search for each other at some point during their lives. Information and resources provided include searching for birth relatives; reuniting with birth relatives; obtaining birth and adoption records; and relevant laws and policies.
Local Forms and Self-Help Information
For local forms and information for your county, click the title to see the SELF-HELP FORMS AND INFORMATION sub-topic. Counties are listed alphabetically after some generally applicable forms or you can set your location on the page to see only forms applicable for that location.
Philadelphia County: Affidavit of Service
Form from the Family Division of the Court of Common Please of Philadelphia that may be used in family law proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Westmoreland County: Forms
A variety of forms for use in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas may be downloaded at this link.
York County: Court Forms
The Court Forms section of the York County Court of Common Pleas offers popular forms provided by various Court and Court-related departments.