Adoption and Birth

Are you wondering about maternity or paternity leave? Have you just given birth? Are you considering adoption? Here you will find information about these issues.

The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start.

You may also find helpful resources listed under these legal topics: Adoption, Workers' rights and employment standards


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

Alberta Resources

This online resource from the Government of Alberta provides information about the Alberta government adoption process and applications as well as private adoption options. Includes links to other adoption resources and a link to profiles of children available for adoption.
Related legal topic(s): Adoption

Get your questions about Adoption Records answered at Law-Faqs.org's list of frequently asked questions about adoption records.

Related legal topic(s): Adoption

These FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. They provide answers for birth parents and adopted children about accessing adoption records in Alberta.

Related legal topic(s): Adoption

This publication explains the provisions of the Act as they apply to pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternity and parental leave, adoption, and childcare obligations. It also provides resources for finding more information about maternity leave and parental leave, which includes leave for adoptive parents.

Related legal topic(s): Family law general resources, Human rights, Workers' rights and employment standards

This section of the Service Alberta website provides information about ordering a birth certificate, registering a birth, adopting, choosing a last name and making corrections to a birth registration.
Related legal topic(s): Adoption, Family law general resources

This online resource is provided by Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. These FAQs provide information regarding who is eligible for maternity and parental leave, the duration of both leaves, income during these leaves, what is required of you to give to your employer, what is required of the employer, as well as what can expected when you return to work or if you are unable to take maternity/parental leave.

Related legal topic(s): Workers' rights and employment standards

Canada/Federal

The Adoption Council of Canada (ACC) is a national non-profit organization and registered charity and is the umbrella organization for adoption in Canada. By providing a library and clearinghouse on adoption issues,  publications and information about adoption news and resources as well as referrals to adoption inquiries, the ACC raises public awareness of adoption, promotes the placement of waiting children, stresses the importance of post-adoption services, and supports search, reunion, and unqualified access to identifying information for both adopted adults and their birth parents.
Related legal topic(s): Adoption

This website from Citizenship and Immigration Canada contains information relating to the topic of international adoption. The Hague Convention governs international adoptions in many countries, including Canada and this website helps prospective parents under both the adoption and the immigration or citizenship processes as they relate to international adoptions.
Related legal topic(s): Adoption

CPLEA Resources