If you and your spouse are considering adoption in Idaho, you may be wondering whether or not you meet Idaho’s adoption requirements. The state does not expect you to be rich or powerful, but it is important that you meet a few qualifications for adoption to prove that you are capable of providing a child with a safe, loving and stable home. In order to determine whether you meet the Idaho adoption requirements, please see the frequently asked questions below.

If you're ready to talk to an adoption specialist about adoption in Idaho, reach out to us through our free online form.

Do you have to be married to adopt in Idaho?

No, there are not any marriage requirements for adoption in Idaho. However, if a hopeful adoptive parent is married, the spouse’s consent is required before the couple can pursue adoption.

This is the only specific marriage stipulation Idaho’s state laws define for hopeful adoptive parents. However, it’s important to note that as a national adoption agency, American Adoptions has its own set of requirements to satisfy the adoption laws in all 50 states. At present, our agency only works with couples who have been married for at least two years. However, exceptions may be made in some circumstances, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have not been married for two years but still wish to adopt a child.

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

Unless the person pursuing adoption in the spouse of a biological parent, the laws regarding the adoption age limit in Idaho state that an adoptive parent must either be at least 25 years old or 15 years older than the child they are adopting.

Can a felon adopt a child in Idaho?

While this might seem like a simple question, the answer is much less so. If either you or your partner has been convicted of a felony, the nature of the crime will be crucial in understanding whether or not you are eligible to adopt. If the felony involved assault, abuse, or domestic violence, it is very unlikely that you will be allowed to adopt, particularly if the crime was against a child. If, however, it was of a less violent nature, it’s possible that you may be able to explain to your social worker what happened and how you’ve changed in the meantime in order to still meet the Idaho adoption requirements.

Are there also emotional requirements to adopt a child in Idaho?

Once you and your partner have verified that you meet the legal requirements to adopt a child in Idaho, you may assume that this means you are ready to proceed. However, it’s important that you think about the emotional responsibilities of adopting as well. If you think you are ready to take this step, you should first ask yourselves:

• Are both of us ready and excited to adopt a child?

• Have both of us moved on entirely from infertility and the grieving process that accompanies infertility?

• Have both of us accepted that the adoption process will involve emotional lows as well as emotional highs?

• Have we told those closest to us about our adoption plan yet? If not, how do we plan to do that?

If, after reading the above questions, you have no hesitation, then congratulations! Adopting a child is not an easy process, but it’s one that will be so worth it in the end.

Requirements to Adopt a Child from the Idaho Foster Care System

Because American Adoptions is a private domestic adoption agency, we are not affiliated in any way with Idaho’s foster care system. However, the children it works with are still very near and dear to our hearts. If you think that you and your family may be interested in foster parenting or adopting a child from the foster care system, we encourage you to contact the Idaho CareLine at 800-929-2588 for more information.

Because the foster care system is different than the private adoption system, it has different adoption requirements in Idaho. While you’ll want to speak with your case worker for more information, the following criteria must generally be met to become a foster parent or adopt an older child from foster care:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Be no more than 40 years older than the child you wish to foster parent or adopt

• Have a stable source of income

• Have adequate space in your home for a child

• Be able to pass a physical exam

• Complete classes through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

To learn more about Idaho adoption requirements with our agency or to start the process of adopting a baby today, please contact American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION. 

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