Thus , in May 24 , 1851 the first adoption statute in the United States went into effect - the Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act . Pursuant to the Massachusetts statute , adoption was required to be judicially approved , likewise the consent of the child 's parent or guardian were needed to be secured , and also a finding that the prospective adoptive family was of with sufficient ability to raise the child . History of Pennsylvania Adoption Law Following the example of Massachusetts , the Pennsylvania enacted...











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