What are the ages to adopt?

monkeykitty83

Different states, countries, and agencies have different policies. The average youngest age is 21-25, although there are exceptions to that (for example, the minimum age for adoption from China is 30.) There are sometimes rules about the maximum, but that varies wildly depending on where you want to adopt from. Regardless of age, you must be in general good health and financially stable.

ETA: Oldest age totally varies. There's no one standard, and some don't technically list a maximum but wouldn't approve someone really old. Sometimes it goes by combined parental age, rather than setting a max age for each person, so one younger parent could offset one older parent. I don't know how to directly compare that.

You need to decide what sort of adoption to pursue, and then find out the specific policies involved. Otherwise nothing we can tell you is that helpful.

Semper Fi

most places you have to be 21 to adopt

Adoptionissadnsick

There is no oldest age, adults can be adopted.

Technically speaking it is up to the agency and the country you choose. With domestic infant adoption through an agency most will state that one or both parents must be over the age of 24 and under the age of 45 or 50 to adopt. Attorneys generally say you must be at least 18 or 21. Attorneys usually don't have a maximum age requirement.

With international adoption it really depends on the country you choose. Korea states that both parents must be under 45 but over 23 years old by the time the adoption is complete. The minimum age for China is 30 years old and the maximum is 50. Couples 50-55 can only adopt children with special needs.

SBL

under 18 but after that the child is an adult and can decide if he/she wants to be adopted into a family

Alexus H

i think it 21 to 69

Kate

Age isn't so much a factor, again some young adults are immature and can barely care for themselves, yet some might be married, have a home etc.

I watched a Montel Williams show a couple of years ago where a nineteen year old adopted triplets that were in foster care, one in each home of a family member who were foster parents. She fostered them, then at the age of 20 adopted them.

You never know.

BLW_KAM

Russian 25 - 55 for couples, 25 - 45 for single women
Ethiopia 25 - 50
South Korea 25 - 44
China 30 - 49
Philippines 27 - 45
India 30 - 55
US - laws vary by state and agency. You can find state laws here: http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/partiesall.pdf
UK - 21 to ? - varies by agency

Hope this is what you're looking for.

ETA: I don't understand the thumbs down. Did I misunderstand the question or are my facts wrong?

Melanie H

Age is a factor but not as important as the home you can provide at a certain age. Some 18 year olds have been married two years and own a home. Some are still in highschool.

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