In order to adopt a child, hopeful adoptive parents must meet the requirements to adopt in Utah first. Depending on the type of adoption you choose and the adoption professional you decide to work with, your adoption requirements can vary. In general, though, the following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the requirements for adopting a child in Utah:

Do I have to be married to adopt in Utah?

No. Single individuals can adopt in Utah. However, “unmarried, cohabiting couples” may not adopt in UT.

If you are married, you’ll need to petition to adopt with the consent of your spouse.

Individual adoption professional often have their own set of adoption qualifications regarding the marital status of prospective adoptive parents. American Adoptions, for one, requests that adoptive couples have been married for at least two years before beginning the adoption process, although exceptions have been made.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about the adoption requirements for married and unmarried Utah residents.

Can same-sex couples adopt in Utah?

Despite some legislative attempts to limit same-sex adoptive parents from adopting through foster care in Utah, same-sex couples can still adopt in Utah as long as they meet the marriage requirements mentioned above.

Again, adoption professionals may have their own requirements or preferences.

LGBT families who want to adopt a child in Utah are welcome at American Adoptions. Call us now to learn more.

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

Adoptive parents must be at least 10 years older than the child being adopted. If you’re married, only one of you needs to meet that requirement. There is no given upper adoption age limit in Utah.

To adopt from foster care and through most private adoption agencies, you must be at least 21 years old to adopt in Utah, although adoption professionals may have different age requirements to adopt in Utah. American Adoptions’ age requirements ask that adoptive parents be between 22 and 50 years old, although exceptions have been made for some families.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about our age requirements to adopt in Utah.

Can a felon adopt a child in Utah?

Before any prospective adoptive parent can adopt in the U.S., they must first be cleared to do so through a home study. Home studies include criminal background checks, FBI fingerprinting and more.

Having been convicted of a felony does not mean that you’ll be automatically prevented from adopting in Utah. The court and your social worker will examine your individual case and decide whether or not to approve you for an adoption based on your specific circumstances. To get to this stage, you’ll first need to apply through an adoption agency, so call to find out more.

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

The legal adoption requirements in Utah are fairly cut and dry. But there are some additional requirements to adopt that you might not have thought of at this stage in your adoption journey. These adoption requirements will include:

Health Requirements to Adopt in UT

Your home study will require you to submit current health statements. This is to make sure that you’re physically and mentally healthy enough to adopt a child at this point in your life.

Financial Adoption Requirements in UT

Home studies also require that adoptive families submit their current financial statements. A prospective adoptive family must be financially stable enough to care for a child’s basic needs.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting a Child in UT

Although your emotional readiness for adoption is more difficult to verify, it’s nevertheless one of the most essential requirements for adopting a child in Utah. Meeting these emotional requirements to adopt in Utah is often seen as a good indicator that your adoption will be a successful one. Emotional requirements to adopt include:

• Uniting with your spouse about adoption goals and expectations, as well as your parenting methods and how you feel about adoption prior to starting your adoption journey.

• Dealing with any lingering grief from infertility that you may have experienced.

• Releasing expectations that come with having a biological child so that you can embrace your new dream of adoption.

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

• Emotionally preparing yourself for the Utah adoption process and for raising adopted children.

• Maintaining your commitment to the UT adoption process in the face of potential challenges.

If you meet the qualifications for adoption in Utah, call us at 1-800-ADOPTION now, or request your free adoption information online.

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