LAW & EDUCATION PROJECT
Federal law protects sibling bonds in foster care. The gap between what the law says and what actually happens is what we exist to close.
Through legal research, advocacy tools, professional training, and cross-sector partnership, the National Network for Fostering Sibling Connections is turning sibling rights from words on paper into lived reality.
LAW & EDUCATION PROJECT
Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationships in a child's life
Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationships in a child's life, yet siblings are frequently separated when children enter foster care. Research and lived experience show that maintaining sibling bonds can provide stability, emotional support, identity, and continuity during an already difficult time. Because of this, both federal and state laws recognize the importance of protecting sibling connections.
At the federal level, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act requires child welfare agencies to make reasonable efforts to place siblings together in foster care, kinship, guardianship, or adoptive placements whenever it is safe and appropriate. When siblings cannot be placed together, the law requires agencies to provide frequent visitation or ongoing interaction, unless it would be contrary to a child's safety or well-being.
In addition to federal requirements, many states have their own statutes, policies, and court practices designed to protect sibling relationships. These laws vary widely in how they define siblings, prioritize sibling placements, provide visitation rights, and allow courts to oversee or enforce those protections.
To better understand these protections nationwide, we worked with pro bono attorneys, volunteers, and individuals with lived experience to gather information about sibling connection policies across the country. Below is information compiled by our volunteers in 2025 and 2026.
WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT
Legal research, advocacy tools, and cross-sector partnership
In 2025, we partnered with leading legal institutions and pro bono advocates to build the most comprehensive sibling rights resource infrastructure in the country.
Partnered with the American Bar Association Litigation Section Children's Rights Litigation Committee and volunteer attorneys across the country to draft 50-state legal research summaries focused on the laws and policies of each state, along with Washington DC and Puerto Rico
Partnered with Loyola University Chicago School of Law on pro bono legislative and policy research
Updated and drafted two national sample motions: Motion for Joint Sibling Placement and Motion for Sibling Visitation
Began developing additional tools to support people on the ground — bench cards, implementation guides, and practice advisories
Provided training at state and national conferences for lawyers and judges to assist them in enforcing sibling rights
Provided individualized technical assistance to lawyers, CASAs, agencies, and lived experience advocates. While we do not take individual cases, we connect advocates with research, legal frameworks, and referral networks
STATE LAW SUMMARIES
Find your state's sibling rights laws
This list is the result of a deep-dive search across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. It serves as a directory of the legal research project on sibling connections for the National Network for Fostering Sibling Connections. The summaries provide an overview of topics affecting sibling connections and youth rights — including sibling bills of rights, definitions, placement policies, and visitation rights.
For some states, rough draft summaries are available upon request. For others, we have gathered additional resources including sample motions, practice notes, and expanded legal research. This project is collaborative and ongoing — if you notice information that needs updating or have resources to share, we welcome your participation.
THINGS TO KNOW
Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationships in a child's life
The above memos provide a general summary of laws related to sibling connections in foster care. These summaries were developed in 2025 and 2026 through a collaborative effort of pro bono attorneys, advocates, and individuals with lived experience as part of the National Network of Fostering Sibling Connections. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, laws, regulations, and policies may change, there can be mistakes, and this summary may not reflect the most current legal developments or the full scope of applicable law.
This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. The material should not be relied upon as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney regarding a specific situation. Individuals seeking guidance about their rights or obligations should consult a licensed attorney or appropriate legal professional in their jurisdiction.
If you have updated information, or would like to submit changes please join our efforts and email cathy.krebs@americanbar.org.
Thank you to Cathy Krebs and the Children's Rights Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section for its support with this project and to the many volunteers, each of whom is acknowledged in the individual memos, for their time and effort in finalizing these summaries.
GET INVOLVED
Are you a legal expert? We need your help.
Our 50-state legal research initiative is ongoing and collaborative. We are actively seeking licensed attorneys and legal experts who can provide pro bono legal reviews of our drafted state law summaries — ensuring they are accurate, current, and complete. If you have expertise in family law, child welfare law, or foster care policy in your state, we would love to hear from you. Your contribution will directly support advocates, families, and children navigating sibling rights across the country.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sibling Rights in Foster Care
SIBLING RESEARCH
The science behind sibling connection
The ABA has an entire toolkit for lawyers covering the research on the benefits of sibling connections. To find social science support for your in-court and out-of-court legal advocacy, explore the ABA toolkit below.
A toolkit published by the ABA Litigation Section Children's Rights Litigation Committee that compiles social science research on the benefits of sibling placement and contact — built so lawyers can use the research directly in their advocacy.
Sibling Relationships are Sacred: Benefits of Sibling Placement and Contact