Can an adult adoption take place in a state in which that adult is not a resident?

Question

I am 20 years old, and I want to be adopted. The family that wants to adopt me lives in Ohio. However, if under Ohio law I am not eligible to be adopted as an adult, can we have the adoption in another state---even if we are not residents of that state?

Answer 1

check out OH law first

contrary to the other posters, adults can be adopted

Answer 2

You can't be adopted.

The only way adult adoptions happen is from special needs cases that are in the state system foster care, have no other family to care for them and there is special needs to do so etc.  Based on the way you worded your question I would say you don't qualify and if you were in the state system with special needs physically or for severe medical (which is how such adoptions happen) you wouldn't be using a computer anyway because you would not be capable.

Answer 3

The parties will have to establish residency in another state in order for that State's courts to have jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter.

And, in many states, adult adoption is legal. See Texas Family Code §§162.501 et seq. for an example. Ohio is one of a handful of states that does not allow adult adoption except in specific circumstances:

States that do not allow most adult adoptions include:

# Alabama only allows adults over the age of 18 who are permanently disabled or mentally retarded to be adopted.

# Arizona only allows people under the age of 21 to be adopted.

# Michigan,

# Nebraska

# Ohio only allows permanently disabled, mentally retarded persons, or adults who have established a relationship with the adoptive parent(s) through foster care or a step-parent relationship.

Answer 4

Try CA.  They let a couple adopt a 50 year old man some years back.  I don't know about other states.  And CA may have changed their laws by now.  I think it is great you want to be adopted and they want to adopt you.  It was a frequent practice a few hundred years ago for men to "legitimize" a child after that child was grown if they did not have any heirs of their own.  You go for it.  Nothing should stand in the way of a family wanting to be legally bonded.

Answer 5

You can't be adopted in any state, you aren't a minor anymore. Only minors can be adopted and the reason there is adoption is so parents can raise a parent-less child. If you really like the family, you can keep in touch and call them family but they will never legally be your family.