If you and your family are thinking about adopting a child in North Dakota, you may be wondering about the adoption requirements for doing so. North Dakota doesn’t require that you be wealthy or have a fancy career. The qualifications for adoption in North Dakota simply ensure that you be able to provide a child with a safe, loving and secure home.

The following are a few of the adoption requirements in North Dakota you’ll need to meet:

How old do you have to be to adopt in North Dakota?

North Dakota has no adoption age limit. In most cases, an adoptive parent must be a legal adult. However, if a husband and wife jointly adopt, one or both may be minors if they meet all of the other adoption requirements in North Dakota.

Do you have to be married to adopt in North Dakota?

No. Just like there is no adoption age limit in North Dakota, there are also no marriage requirements for adoption in ND. The following people can adopt in North Dakota:

• A husband and wife adopting jointly, even if one or both are minors
• A single adult
• An unmarried parent of a person to be adopted

It’s important to note, though, that American Adoptions is a national agency and therefore has its own set of requirements that fulfill the laws in all states. Currently, we work with couples who have been married for a minimum of two years. That doesn’t mean that exceptions can’t be made, though. If you don’t meet this adoption requirement but still wish to adopt, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Can a felon adopt a child in North Dakota?

The answer to this question is not as black and white as one might expect. Your eligibility to adopt is going to depend on the nature of the crime and what steps you’ve taken to change since it occurred. If the felony you were convicted of involves any sort of abuse or assault, particularly domestic violence or anything involving a child, it’s unlikely that you will meet the requirements to adopt in North Dakota. If, however, the crime was not violent and endangered no children, you may be able to explain what happened and what you’ve since learned to your social worker.

What are the emotional requirements to adopt a child in North Dakota?

Provided that you meet the legal adoption requirements in North Dakota, you’ll need to make sure you’re emotionally ready as well. Before you commit to adopting a child, both you and your spouse should ask yourselves the following questions:

• Have my spouse and I both moved on from infertility?
• Am I excited and ready for the adoption process? Is my spouse equally as excited and ready?
• How do we plan to tell our closest family members and friends about our adoption decision? Will they be a good support system?
• Do I understand that the adoption process is inevitably going to come with some lows as well as highs?

If you as a family unit feel good about your answers to all of the above questions, then you may be ready to begin pursuing adoption!

Requirements to Adopt a Child in the North Dakota Foster Care System

Because American Adoptions works to help families complete private domestic adoptions, we are not affiliated with the foster care system in North Dakota. However, if you feel that you may be interested in foster parenting or adopting an older child from the foster care system, we highly encourage you to look into doing so. There are currently 1,364 children in North Dakota’s foster care system, 341 of whom are legally eligible to be permanently adopted. To adopt from foster care, you’ll need to meet the same adoption requirements as you would to complete a private domestic adoption. Please note, however, that you do not need to be wealthy. A child needs stability, a safe home and love—and if you can provide these things, you’ll be considered for adoption in North Dakota.

To learn more about our agency's North Dakota adoption requirements or to begin the North Dakota adoption process with us today, please contact American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION.

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