Raising a child is a huge responsibility, so it is no wonder that there are adoption requirements that must be met to adopt a child. What will disqualify you from adopting a child?
You may be disqualified from adopting a child if you are viewed as too old, too young, or in a bad state of health. An unstable lifestyle could also disqualify you, as well as an unfavorable criminal background and a lack of financial stability. Having a record of child abuse will also disqualify you.
It’s natural to be concerned about what might disqualify you from adopting a child. Certain medical conditions may also be disqualifiers, so you will want to do your research and be prepared in advance for what is expected of you. If you are considering adopting a child, you will want to research as much as you can about the requirements for the state in which you wish to adopt.
You may also be interested in learning more about how mental health issues may affect your chances of adopting a child.
Each state may vary with its set of requirements. Depending on which type of adoption you choose and the adoption agency you work with, these requirements can vary.
Below are links to articles covering the adoption requirements in each state listed here for your convenience.
We have also provided a table by state listing some basic requirements for quick reference near the bottom of this article.
As one would expect, there are requirements you must meet to adopt a child. These requirements are set into place to ensure that the child is being placed with a family that is qualified to care for them.
With the overflow of paperwork, the legal stipulations, and the mandates you must meet, the entire adoption process can overwhelming.
We will cover some of the most common reasons why someone may not qualify to adopt a child. The specifics of each of these categories, however, are dependent on the state in which you wish to adopt a child.
There are very few other occasions when someone will feel as scrutinized and judged as when going through the adoption process.
There will most likely be a background check, as well as fingerprints. If you meet the basic requirements, there will be a required home study to confirm that your household is fit for a child.
All of this is on top of being judged by a potential birth mother who will get to pick and choose to whom she places her baby.
We cannot begrudge the stringent mandates, as it is all being done in the best interest of the child.
Knowing what is required of you before starting the adoption process will help you be as prepared as possible.
Adoption can be very expensive, but there are ways to adopt more affordably, providing you have an open mind.
Age Requirements to Adopt a Child
What are the age requirements to adopt a child?
Most states have a desired age range for adoptive parents of between 21 to 50, yet the minimum age requirement in most states is technically 18 years of age. Very few states have age-limit restrictions that legally say you are too old to adopt a child, but the bias still exists.
What matters the most is one’s ability to raise a child.
Yet there are naturally some very valid concerns about older adults adopting a child. Are you physically and mentally capable of raising a child?
Do you have escalating ailments that may shortly get in the way of your good intentions?
Although most states do not have specified age limits, there are adoption agencies that choose their adoption cut-off dates based on your age.
How flexible they are on where they stand with the age issue could depend from agency to agency.
If you are older and wish to adopt, you will want to ask yourself the following questions:
- If you are retired, are you financially able to raise a child on retirement income alone?
- Perhaps you have downsized after already raising a family. Do you have adequate space to start over again to raise a child?
- How is your health, and do you lead an active lifestyle?
- Are you physically and mentally capable of raising a child?
- Do you have escalating ailments that may in the near future get in the way of your good intentions?
If you answered favorably to the above questions, then you are on the right track.
One thing I would like to point out here is that even though the state in which you plan to adopt might not have a legal age cap to stop you from adopting a child, birth mothers tend to choose younger couples to place their baby with.
This does not mean, however, that an older couple would not be selected by a birth mother. This simply means that older adoptive parents tend to be on the waiting list for a longer period.
If you are older, you may want to consider becoming a foster parent. Qualifying to be a foster parent is a bit easier with less of an age dilemma for older adults wishing to become foster parents.
Are you too young to adopt a child?
Only adults can adopt a child. Most states require you to at least be 18, yet some states require you to be older.
For example, you must be at least 25 years of age in the state of Idaho and Georgia to adopt a child, and 21 years of age to adopt a child in Colorado and Delaware.
Adoption agencies may have their age requirements, regardless of what the state requirements are.
Would you consider adopting a child with special needs? Learn more here.
Criminal History and Adoption Disqualifiers
Some people might feel apprehensive about having a background check done and fingerprints taken. You may be asking yourself, what on my criminal background check will disqualify me from adopting a child?
A criminal history that will prevent you from adopting a child would be convictions such as a felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, crimes against a child, a crime involving violence, physical assault, or homicide. Contact the state you wish to adopt for more details.
Depending on the state you reside in will be your biggest determining factor in whether or not you will qualify to adopt a child.
Other convictions such as drug or alcohol-related offenses may require a certain amount of years to pass before you can be considered for the adoption process.
Having a negative mark on your record will not necessarily rule you out of the adoption process.
The best thing you can do is be as upfront and honest in your adoption application as possible. If you bring up the subject first, you will gain credibility and earn trust.
Perhaps you have something on your record from a long time ago, and you are not that same person anymore.
Financial Requirements to Adopt
Adoption can indeed be a very expensive process, however, that does not mean to imply that you must be financially well off to adopt a child. What are the financial requirements to adopt?
The financial requirements to adopt a child are that you are capable of supporting yourself and your adopted child, providing food, clothing, comfortable shelter, as well as other everyday expenses.
Struggling to make ends meet will not be comforting to an adoption agency who would worry you would not be able to meet the needs of the child.
If you are living paycheck to paycheck with no money left over for food, clothing, and other necessities, adopting a child would not be a feasibly good idea.
Having a mortgage, school debt, and other financial obligations are fine just as long as you have money left over to also take care of a child.
If you can show that you are stable with a means of bringing in a reliable and consistent income, then you are off to a good start.
Will a medical condition make you ineligible to adopt a child? We find out.
Health Issues that Will Disqualify You From Adopting
Adoption agencies do not expect you to be in perfect health when you apply to adopt a child. What they do expect is that you are not suffering from an ailment that will hinder your ability to care for a child and that you will be able to care for a child long-term. What health issues would disqualify you from adopting a child?
Health issues that would disqualify you from adopting a child are terminal illnesses or medical issues that would impair one’s physical or mental ability to care for a child long-term. Not all chronic illnesses, however, are disqualifiers.
Common illnesses like diabetes or mental illnesses such as anxiety are treatable, allowing you to care for a child’s needs.
Most states require an up-to-date medical history to be provided to the adoption agency before an adoption can be approved.
Lifestyles that May Disqualify You From Adopting
No state laws are prohibiting a particular lifestyle when it comes to child adoption. However, each adoption agency is free to set their requirements and guidelines to which types of lifestyles they feel comfortable with, and which ones they do not.
Lifestyles that may disqualify you from adopting through some adoption agencies are LGBT couples, those who travel a lot, and single adults wishing to raise a child alone. Viewpoints are gradually changing to accept what is viewed as not traditional.
Adoption agencies with religious funding may be against LGBT couples and choose not to adopt a child to them.
With that said, not all adoption agencies with religious ties discriminate based on physical orientation.
Hopeful adoptive parents who are single may also be disqualified by some adoption agencies. These same biases can happen when trying to adopt internationally, as well.
There are plenty of adoption agencies out there who would be more than happy to help you on your adoption journey and not discriminate based on your physical preference or because you wish to be a single parent.
A family, couple, or individual who wishes to adopt that travels all the time may not be appealing to some adoption agencies.
Do you plan on traveling with your child, or would you be leaving your child in someone else’s care while you are away? There may be a concern about the stability of the child’s environment when it is constantly changing around them.
These are all things to think about and to be prepared for.
Requirements by State Table
| State | Age Requirements | LGBT Limitations | Residence Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Adult | None | None |
| Alaska | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Arizona | Adult | None | Must be a resident |
| Arkansas | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| California | Adult and 10 years older than a child | None | None |
| Colorado | 21 and older | None | None |
| Connecticut | None | None | None |
| Delaware | 21 and older | None | Must be a resident |
| Florida | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Georgia | 25 and older and 10 years older than a child | None | Resident for 6 months |
| Hawaii | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Idaho | 25 and older and 15 years older than a child | None | None |
| Illinois | Adult | None | Resident for 6 months |
| Indiana | None | None | Must be a resident, with exceptions |
| Iowa | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Kansas | Adult | None | None |
| Kentucky | Adult | None | Resident for 12 months |
| Louisiana | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Maine | None | None | None |
| Maryland | Adult | None | None |
| Massachusetts | Adult | None | None |
| Michigan | None | None | None |
| Minnesota | None | None | Resident for 12 months |
| Mississippi | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | Resident for 6 months |
| Missouri | None | None | None |
| Montana | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Nebraska | Adult | None | None |
| Nevada | Adult and 10 years older than a child | None | None |
| New Hampshire | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| New Jersey | Adult and 10 years older than a child | None | None |
| New Mexico | None | None | Resident with exceptions |
| New York | Adult | None | None |
| North Carolina | Adult | None | None |
| North Dakota | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Ohio | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Oklahoma | 21 and older | None | None |
| Oregon | None | None | Resident for 6 months |
| Pennsylvania | None | None | None |
| Rhode Island | Adult | None | None |
| South Carolina | None | None | Reside with exceptions |
| South Dakota | At least 10 years older than a child | None | None |
| Tennessee | Adult | None | Resident for 6 months |
| Texas | Adult | None | None |
| Utah | Adult and 10 years older than a child | None | Unmarried, living together cannot apply |
| Vermont | None | None | None |
| Virginia | None | None | None |
| Washington | Adult | None | None |
| West Virginia | None | None | None |
| Wisconsin | Adult (for single-parent adoption) | None | None |
| Wyoming | Adult | None | Resident for 60 days |
Perhaps you have a concern that you feel would make you ineligible to adopt a child. I would advise you to be as upfront as possible with the adoption liaison that you choose right away.
The sooner you bring any concerns to the surface, the sooner you can know for sure if would qualify to adopt a child.
The last thing you want is to get deeper into the adoption process when you have already committed a financial payment, then find out later after that money was spent that you will not qualify to participate in the adoption process.
And who knows, maybe whatever it is that you are concerned about will not disqualify you after all!
About the Author:
Trina Greenfield is passionate about providing information to those considering growing their family. Trina does not run an adoption agency. Her website is strictly information-based, so she is able to provide unbiased, credible information that she hopes will help guide those along their journey.
