Comparison Chart

The child has no rights of inheritance from the guardian unless the child has been included in the guardian's will.

A child who is 10 years of age or older must consent to his/her own adoption, unless the court in the best interest of the minor dispenses with minor's consent.

A child who is 10 years of age or older must consent to his/her own guardianship

The adoption subsidy ends with the death or termination of rights of the adoptive parents. The child most likely will remain eligible for adoption assistance in a subsequent adoption. Please contact OCS regarding requirements well before the second adoption is finalized.

A guardianship subsidy ends due to the death or incapacitation of his/her guardians.

A subsidy may be offered to the successor guardian listed in the subsidy agreement for IV-E Federal Guardianship Subsidies

The commitment entered into by adopting a child is one that lasts for a lifetime.

Adoptive parents retain their parental rights until such time as a court terminates parental rights.

Guardianship is a strong commitment to the child and is intended to be a lifetime relationship. The guardian may petition the court for permission to resign or another person, such as the biological parent may petition to dissolve the guardianship.

A child in foster care is almost always eligible for adoption assistance in the form of a subsidy. Rarely, a child not in custody may be eligible for a subsidy if they are determined to be special needs by state statute. The adoptive parent/s are financially responsible for the support of the child.. The adoption subsidy lasts until the child is 18 with no exceptions.

A child in foster care is almost always eligible for Guardianship Assistance in the form of a subsidy. Non-custody children are not eligible for a guardianship subsidy. A guardian is financially responsible for the child. Guardianship subsidy lasts until the child is 18.

Adoption subsidies almost always include Medicaid Coverage.

Adoptive parents can choose to place their child on their private insurance. Medicaid would be secondary to private insurance.

Adopted children can continue to access Indian Health Services if eligible.

The adopted child may be eligible for continued Medicaid coverage through age 21 if DPA eligibility requirements are met.

Only Federal IV-E Guardianship Subsidies include Medicaid.

If a child remains in foster care through their 18th birthday, they are eligible for Medicaid until age 26. Guardians and older youth must be informed of this fact.

Effective October 24, 2016, any PFD Funds held in trust by OCS are released when the child turns 18. Adoptive parent files for PFD's subsequent to adoption.

If a youth is adopted after their 16th birthday, they remain eligible for Independent Living Benefits if they were eligible prior to the adoption.

Any PFD Funds held in trust by OCS are released when the child turns 18.

Guardian file for PFD's subsequent to guardianship.

If a youth is placed in a guardianship after their 16th birthday, they remain eligible for Independent Living Benefits if they were eligible prior to the guardianship.

Termination of parental rights means that the biological parents are not responsible for continuing child support after the date of adoption. They may still be responsible for past child support which was not paid.

If an adoptive child returns to custody in Alaska, child support services division will not collect child support from the adoptive parent, if they were notified it was an OCS adoption.

If the birth parent (s) rights have not been terminated they are responsible to pay child support.

The child support will be collected by the state of Alaska.

This child support benefit will not be directed to the guardian due to the subsidy payment.

The adoptive parent has the right to determine if the child will have any relationship with the birth parents and how that will occur, unless there are other provisions in a specific court order.

If the birth parent (s) rights have not been terminated, they have the right to visit the child unless a court orders no visits. The guardian will have input into how the visits are structured, but cannot prevent visits from occurring. If the guardian and the parent/s cannot work out visitation scheduling one of the parties may wish to seek court involvement.