How old do you have to be to adopt in the US?

Question

Also, is it an expensive and tedious process? What do the courts look for in prospective parents? Can single people adopt?

Answer 1

i dunno 21?

Answer 2

21 in most states.  Yes it is expensive and it is long.  Lots of parents wait for a year or more before adopting. If you adopt an infant then your out of luck if your single because most birth mothers want married couples to adopt their kids. But yes you can adopt if you are single from some countries but you have to be like 25 and up to adopt from foreign countries.

Answer 3

probably 21. And the courts don't really decide. The adoption agency or home-study agencies do and present it to the judge. Unless someone is objecting then the judge follows the agencies recommendations.

Answer 4

It depends on the county where you live some places you have to be at least 21 others 17-18.  Most courts look at financial, mental and emotional stability.  Some states do not like single people adopting while others are okay with it.

Answer 5

18-21 depending on the state. However, the only people who can usually can adopt under 25 are typically doing kinship adoption (adopting a relative or stepchild).  Single people can adopt in most states, but the only ones I've seen that are successful are adopting black children (not enough black people adopt for the number of children available). Can't help you on the rest. sorry.

Answer 6

18, and yes they can. im in the process right now! Good luck!

Answer 7

You have to at least be a legal adult, have the means to care for a child, and it can be costly. The courts will look at if you have a home to provide, if you have a good enough income, and if you can pass a background check. Yes you can be single, but if you are too young even as an adult they will tend to over look you for someone who cannot have a child versus one that still could. The process can also take years unless you are looking into a hard to place child.