encyclopedia of adoption

psychological parent

Also known as de facto parent; person to whom the child has bonded in a parental relationship but with whom the child does not necessarily have a biological, adoptive or legal relationship.

This may be a person who has "informally" adopted a child; for example, a foster parent or a relative who is caring for a child but who does not have legal custody. A psychological parent could also be the live-in friend of an actual parent.

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Preface, Acknowledgments, Introduction

©2000 by Christine Adamec and William Pierce, Ph.D. Reprinted from The Encyclopedia of Adoption, 2nd Edition (2nd Edition) with permission of Facts On File, Inc.

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