How old do you have to be to adopt in America?

Question

If you are 22 or 23 and have been married for 2 or 3 years, can you adopt a baby domestically?

Answer 1

That's great you have a heart for this at such a young age. It's my dream to adopt also some day. I already have four of my own. I think you would be fine. I think it's more simple and quicker to adopt internationally though. Mothers change their minds here, the courts can be unfair. Adopt from Korea or Guatemala if you can afford to. From China you must be married longer than 3 years. If you don't want trouble don't adopt older children that's been in foster care. I know this sounds mean, but it's the truth.

Answer 2

My mom i looking into it and you have to be 21 are older and does not if you are married or not

Answer 3

I wasn't going to say much of anything here, but another answer absolutely outraged me, as it does whenever someone says something similar.

Adopting foreign children because it's EASIER?!

That silly broad needs to be slapped. I'm not an expert on adoption, so it may BE easier to adopt a child from another country. That's not what I'm talking about - what upsets me is that she recommends to go with a foreign child because it's an easier process, which directly translates to "American children are harder to adopt".

This may be true...but parenting is not a cakewalk, either. There are plenty of children (of all ages) that could use a good, loving home to provide a foundation for their future. I've seen, known, loved, and cried for TOO MANY. Too many people that spent their lives being shifted from house to house - after a certain age, the "cute and cuddly" age, people are less inclined to adopt a child that they cannot shape mentally. And there are plenty of babies that spend their entire lives in and out of foster care and the children's shelter.

Yes, they are fed. Schooled, to the best extent that the limited funding can provide. But they are consistantly a face in the crowd, another case of "18 and out"...and, once they're "out", where do they go? That depends on the individual - some do alright, others find themselves in jail or dead. We have let many children in this country fall through the cracks for the sake of our own convenience and a difference of a few thousand dollars.

I'm not racist, nor a hypocrite - my cousin and his wife adopted a little Chinese girl a few years ago. They were both teaching in China at the time, and planned to live there for years. That didn't pan out, but their daughter came home to the US with them. They have since adopted an American child as well.

I know that in many situations, horrible things are done to infants in foreign countries...and I feel sickened by it. I really, truly do. However, we have children to save/nuture here before we can worry about the others. I'm sorry, but we are creating too many social issues by under-educating and under-nurturing today's youth (hear me out!)

What I mean by under-nuturing is that children that spend most of their lives in orphanages could be getting a much more solid foundation. The people that work in those places are doing the best they can with their resources, and I give them A THOUSAND times more credit that most other occupations. However, there are only so many workers, and most children in those situations don't have the massive amounts of one on one time with an adult that children with parents are fortunate to have.

Can you imagine what it's like to hit 18 years old, leave the orphanage/children's center/whatever, and see a couple with a baby they adopted from some foreign country...and wonder why you weren't okay when that kid was?

Again, I'm not trying to be cruel, racist, or anything like that. I'm commending you for looking at adopting domestically. This issue isn't going to go away, and if we just continue to sweep the red flags under the rug without finding solutions, we're going to have even more social and economic problems as a result.

Okay...sorry about the whole "soapbox" routine. I may only be 21, but I have seen and lived many things that people from white picket fences haven't. I've watched friends, stuck in the system, literally kill themselves because they feel so isolated, so unwanted and so insignificant.

Go ahead and thumbs down, people!

Answer 4

Are you infertile?  What is to stop you from having your own babies?

You can adopt, last I checked, domestically for $12-15,000.  I don't know if they have age limits.  I wouldn't think you would be too young, esp if you've been married...

TX Mom

not an expert

Answer 5

If you are married you only have to be 10 years older than the child you want to adopt. So you could adopt a child that is 12 or younger. The does vary state by state though, so check your state laws. If you search for the name of your state and then DHS adoption, you should find the laws.

If you're wanting an infant, I have no idea.

Answer 6

Our son was born 2 weeks after my 24th b-day after 2.5 years of marriage. Finding a match could take a while and by then you'll probably be at least as old as I was. Good luck.

Answer 7

Typically if you want to take classes and do an adoption through foster parenting you have to be 25 I have looked into it....as for adopting a newborn you submit a scrapbook about your family...a background check.....a credit report release form....finger prints...a home inspection is done and you submit proof of income...your birth certificate and social security card are also needed and proof that you paid your taxes for 2 years. they also need that same info for your spouse.....and you still have to be 25 for that so I've heard for most states!

Answer 8

It depends on the state you live in. Check the state laws in your state on adoption requirements. Yes you can be at least 18 in some states to adopt.

Answer 9

In most states the minimum age is 25 unless it is adoption of a family member.  In the case of a married couple one spouse has to be at least 25 and there are laws mandating age difference in most states.  For instance, At 25 you can't adopt a 16 year old.  States differ on the age difference.

Research adoption laws in your own state. In addition to state laws private adoption agencies sometimes have additional guidelines that apply.  For instance, length of marriage.