Anyone who hopes to adopt a child must of course first meet the requirements to adopt in Minnesota. Depending on the type of adoption you’re pursuing and the adoption professional you’re working with, your adoption requirements will vary.

Below, you’ll find some of the most commonly asked questions about the requirements for adopting a child in Minnesota, as well as the answers to those questions.

Do I have to be married to adopt in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota adoption laws state that any person who has resided within the state for more than one year (with some exceptions) may adopt. There are no laws specifying that a person must be married in order to adopt in Minnesota.

However, individual adoption professionals usually have their own adoption qualifications about the marital status of potential adoptive parents. American Adoptions, for one, specifies that adoptive couples must be married for at least two years prior to adopting, although exceptions can be, and have been, made in some circumstances.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about our agency's adoption requirements.

Can same-sex couples adopt in Minnesota?

Yes. There are no laws regarding same-sex couples and adoption in Minnesota. But again, each adoption professional may have their own requirements.

LGBT families are welcome to adopt a child in Minnesota with American Adoptions. Call us to learn more now.  

How old do you have to be to adopt in Minnesota? Is there an adoption age limit?

There are no laws that specify a minimum age to adopt or an upper adoption age limit in Minnesota. Adoption professionals typically have their own age requirements to adopt in Minnesota, including American Adoptions, where we ask that adoptive parents be at least 22 years old and no more than 50 years old.

But again, exceptions have been made to this requirement, so call us at 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about our age requirements to adopt a child in Minnesota.

Can a felon adopt a child in Minnesota?

Prospective adoptive parents in the U.S. must first be approved to adopt through a home study. Home studies include criminal background checks, FBI fingerprinting and several other safety clearances.

Being convicted of a felony does not automatically prevent you from adopting in Minnesota. The court and your social worker will review your individual situation and may approve you for adoption on a case-by-case basis. In order to reach this point in the adoption process, you’ll need to apply through an adoption agency first, so call to learn more.

What do I need to adopt a child in Minnesota? And how hard is it to adopt a baby?

The basic legal adoption requirements in Minnesota are easily definable and easy to prove with all the proper documentation. But there are other requirements to adoption that you may not have thought about yet. Those adoption requirements include:

Health Requirements to Adopt in MN

All hopeful adoptive families must submit their current health records as a part of their home study. Your family’s physical and mental capability of raising a child at this time is taken into consideration during your home study process.

Financial Adoption Requirements in MN

Your current financial records will also need to be included as part of your home study. While you don’t need to be wealthy in order to adopt a child, your financial stability and your ability to meet your family’s basic needs is also taken into consideration.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting a Child in MN

Your emotional preparedness for adoption is the most difficult to verify, because unlike the other requirements for adopting a child in Minnesota, you can’t simply send in a stack of documents to show that you’re emotionally ready for adoption.

Nevertheless, meeting the emotional requirements to adopt in Minnesota is one of the clearest signs that you’ll have a successful adoption. Emotional requirements that prospective adoptive parents should consider include:

• Releasing the expectations that come with having a biological child before embracing the “unknowns” of adoption.

• Resolving any lingering grief from infertility or miscarriage.

• Uniting with your spouse about your feelings towards adoption, your parenting techniques and your adoption goals so that you’re ‘on the same page’ about the adoption process before you begin it.

• Educating yourself about the Minnesota adoption process and about raising adopted children, and emotionally preparing yourself accordingly.

• Learning about maintaining post-adoption relationships with your child’s birth family.

• Remaining committed to the MN adoption process.

If you think you meet American Adoptions' qualifications for adoption in Minnesota, contact us now at 1-800-ADOPTION, or request your adoption information online.

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