What Types of Adoption Are Common in Tennessee?

For many families in Tennessee, adoption is a meaningful way to grow their household and build new legal relationships with a child. Adoption is not a one‑size‑fits‑all process; there are several common paths that families use, each with its own focus and structure. Understanding the general types of adoption can help people in Middle Tennessee decide which route might align best with their goals and situation, even if they are only beginning to explore the idea.

Infant and private adoption

One of the most common forms of adoption in Tennessee is infant adoption, often arranged through private adoption agencies or adoption professionals. In this type of adoption, a birth parent (or parents) voluntarily places a child with another family. The process can be “closed” (no contact or information sharing) or “open” (some level of communication or contact between the birth family and adoptive family), depending on everyone’s preferences and agreements.

Private adoptions are often used when a couple wants to adopt a very young child and is open to working with a professional or agency to match with a birth parent. Because these adoptions usually involve a new, planned placement, many families pursue them early in life or after experiencing infertility or other family‑building challenges.

Agency and foster‑care adoption

Another common path in Tennessee is adoption through a child‑placing agency or through the foster‑care system. Agencies help match children of various ages including older children and sibling groups, with adoptive families. In foster‑care adoption, the state places a child in a foster home with the goal that the family may later adopt the child if reunification with the birth family is not possible.

Adoption through the foster‑care system can be especially meaningful for families willing and able to parent children who may have experienced trauma, instability, or older ages that make them more vulnerable. The state and its partner agencies usually provide guidance, training, and sometimes financial or medical support to help adoptive families navigate the transition.

Stepparent and relative (kinship) adoption

Stepparent and extended‑family adoptions are also common in Tennessee. Stepparent adoption often occurs when a parent remarries or enters a long‑term relationship and the new partner formally adopts the child, creating a legal parent‑child relationship while the non‑custodial biological parent’s rights may be limited or terminated. This type of adoption can help clarify custody, decision‑making, and inheritance for the child while integrating the stepparent more fully into the family structure.

Kinship or relative adoption works similarly but involves a close relative such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling taking on the legal role of parent. This often arises when a child cannot safely remain with their birth parents and the extended family is willing and able to provide a stable home. These adoptions aim to keep the child within the broader family network while still giving the caregiver full legal authority.

This information is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every adoption situation is different. If you want to better understand what types of adoption may fit your family in Tennessee, contact Hagar & Phillips at 615‑784‑4588 to schedule a confidential consultation.