Prospective adoptive families need to meet the requirements to adopt in Nebraska before they can adopt a child. These adoption requirements vary based on the type of adoption you pursue as well as the adoption professional you choose to work with. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions about the requirements for adopting a child in Nebraska:

Do I have to be married to adopt in Nebraska?

No. Individuals may adopt in NE as well as married couples, although if you’re married, you must petition to adopt jointly unless the adoptive parent is a stepparent.

It’s important to note that adoption professionals usually have their own set of adoption qualifications regarding the marital status of potential adoptive parents. For example, American Adoptions requires adoptive couples to have been married for at least two years prior to adopting, although exceptions have been made.

To learn more about our marriage and adoption requirements for Nebraska residents, as well as our exception process, call 1-800-ADOPTION.

Can same-sex couples adopt in Nebraska?

Yes. Same-sex adoptive parents can adopt in Nebraska the same as any other couples in NE, although again, individual adoption professionals may have their own preferences or restrictions.

American Adoptions, for one, welcomes LGBT families who want to adopt a child in Nebraska. Call now to learn more.

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

There is no upper adoption age limit specified in Nebraska adoption laws, but to adopt from most adoption agencies in NE, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old.

Again, different adoption professionals may have different age requirements to adopt in Nebraska. American Adoptions requires adoptive parents to be between 22 and 50 years old, although some exceptions have been made.

Contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about our age requirements to adopt in Nebraska.

Can a felon adopt a child in Nebraska?

All prospective adoptive parents in the U.S. must first be cleared to adopt through a home study. The home study process includes criminal background checks, FBI fingerprinting and more.

If you’ve been convicted of a felony, you won’t automatically be prevented from adopting in Nebraska. Your individual circumstances will be reviewed by the court and your social worker, and they’ll decide whether or not to approve you for adoption on a case-by-case basis. But in order to reach that stage, you’ll need to apply through an adoption agency first, so call to learn more.

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

Although the standard legal adoption requirements in Nebraska are easy to define, there are additional requirements to adopt that you may not have considered yet. These adoption requirements include:

Health Requirements to Adopt in NE

All home studies require prospective adoptive parents to submit health records. This is done to ensure that you’re currently physically and mentally able to care for a child.

Financial Adoption Requirements in NE

A home study also requires you to submit financial statements. Prospective adoptive families must verify that they’re financially stable enough to provide for a child’s basic needs.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting a Child in NE

Your emotional preparedness for adoption is tricky to prove with paperwork, but it’s still one of the most important requirements for adopting a child in Nebraska. If you meet the emotional requirements to adopt in Nebraska, it’s generally viewed as an indicator that your adoption will be successful. The emotional requirements to adopt include:

• Addressing any grief from infertility that you may have experienced.

• Getting in synch with your spouse about your goals and expectations for adoption, as well as your feelings about adoption.

• Letting go of the expectations that having a biological child brings so that you can fully focus on your dream of adoption.

• Educating yourself about how to maintain a post-adoption relationship with your child’s birth family.

• Staying committed to the NE adoption process despite the potential for challenges.

Do you meet our agency qualifications for adoption in Nebraska? Are you ready to get started? Call us at 1-800-ADOPTION or request free adoption information online now.

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