Information rights: disclosure, tracing and reunification -- Conclusion -- 6. The US -- Introduction -- Background -- Contemporary adoption trends -- The current legislative framework -- Regulating the adoption process -- Thresholds for entering the adoption process: eligibility, suitability and placement -- The hearing and the grounds -- Where consent is available -- Human rights considerations -- Thresholds for exiting the adoption process -- The effect of an adoption order -- Information rights: disclosure, tracing and reunification -- Conclusion -- PART III: Contemporary law, policy and practice in a civil law context -- 7. France -- Introduction -- Background -- Contemporary adoption trends -- The current legislative framework -- Regulating the adoption process -- Thresholds for entering the adoption process: eligibility, suitability and placement -- The hearing and the grounds -- Thresholds for exiting the adoption process -- The effect of an adoption order -- Information rights: disclosure, tracing and reunification -- Conclusion -- 8. Germany -- Introduction -- Background -- Contemporary adoption trends -- The current legislative framework -- Regulating the adoption process -- Thresholds for entering the adoption process: eligibility, suitability and placement -- The hearing and the grounds -- Thresholds for exiting the adoption process -- The effect of an adoption order -- Information rights: disclosure, tracing and reunification -- Conclusion -- PART IV: Contemporary law, policy and practice in an Asian context -- 9. Japan -- Introduction -- Background -- Contemporary adoption trends -- The current legislative framework -- Regulating the adoption process -- Thresholds for entering the adoption process: eligibility, suitability and placement -- The hearing and the grounds -- Thresholds for exiting the adoption process