There are a number of requirements to adopt in South Carolina that all prospective adoptive parents must meet before starting the process. Those adoption requirements will vary depending on the type of adoption you pursue, as well as the SC adoption professional you work with.

Some of the most frequently-asked questions about the requirements for adopting a child in South Carolina (and their answers) include:

Do I have to be married to adopt in South Carolina?

Any South Carolina resident may adopt, regardless of their marital status.

However, individual adoption professionals will usually have their own adoption requirements about marriage for prospective adoptive parents. American Adoptions requires couples to be married for a minimum of two years prior to adopting, although exceptions can, and have, been made.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about these adoption requirements.

Can same-sex couples adopt in South Carolina?

Yes, although, again, some adoption professionals have their own preferences.

American Adoptions, for one, welcomes South Carolina LGBT couples who wish to adopt. Contact us now to learn more.

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

While the state of South Carolina does not specify a minimum age to adopt or an upper adoption age limit, most adoption professional will have their own age requirements to adopt in South Carolina. American Adoptions requests that adoptive parents be between 22 to 50 years old, for example.

Once again, exceptions have been made, so call us at 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about age requirements to adopt in South Carolina.

Can a felon adopt a child in South Carolina?

All hopeful adoptive parents must undergo a South Carolina adoption home study, which requires a background check and a review of any criminal history.

While some prospective adoptive parents who’ve been convicted of a felony may be approved to adopt in South Carolina, this is done on a case-by-case-basis under the review of the court and a social worker. In order to reach this point, you must first apply through an adoption agency, so call us now to learn more.

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

Most of the general legal adoption requirements in South Carolina for potential adoptive parents are clearly defined. But there are other requirements for adoption that many hopeful parents don’t consider.  These adoption requirements include:

Health Requirements to Adopt in SC

Recent health records are submitted by the adoptive family during their home study, which is required for all types of adoption in South Carolina, to verify that they’re physically and mentally well enough to care for the needs of a child.

Financial Adoption Requirements

Adoptive families must also submit recent financial records as part of their home study to verify that they’re financially stable enough to meet the needs of a child.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting a Child          

The emotional requirements to adopt in South Carolina may be the most important to the overall success of an adoption, even though there aren’t documents that can prove you’re emotionally prepared to adopt (unlike many of the other requirements for adopting a child in South Carolina). Some of the emotional requirements that prospective adoptive parents should consider include:

• Confronting any lingering grief from infertility, miscarriage or letting go of the dream to have a biological child.

• Learning about the South Carolina adoption process, and emotionally preparing yourself accordingly.

• Working with your spouse to get on the same page about your adoption goals and parenting tactics so that both of you are equally excited about the adoption process before you begin.

• Letting go of the expectations that come with being genetically related to your child.

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

• Remaining fully committed to adoption, regardless of challenges. This is the strongest indicator of success in adoptions.

Find out if you meet our agency's qualifications for adoption in South Carolina now: call 1-800-ADOPTION or request free adoption information online.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.