U.S. Infant Adoption

I know it's been awhile, but I finally have a recap of the series Adopting In the 50 States. Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Always consult an adoption professional before making any decisions.

States That Specifically Do Not Allow Gay & Lesbian Parents to Adopt

• Connecticut: No one is required to place a child with a gay or lesbian adult, but it is allowed.
• Florida
• Mississippi
• Utah

Amount of Time Before TPR, Revocation Period

Note: Some states have different rules for birthfathers and birthmothers.

• Alabama: Anytime before or after

I imagine that most of the people who read this blog (if, indeed, there's anyone out there at all) are adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents. Most adoption information really does seem to be aimed at us. For all the talk of the adoption "triad" of adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents, adoptive parents drive the conversations. In the last few years, more and more birth parents have been blogging about their experiences. When I was pursuing adoption the first time around, I found the group BirthMom Buds. I quote: BirthMom Buds is an organization and website that provides peer counseling, support, encouragement, and friendship to pregnant women considering adoption as well as women who have already placed children for adoption. Since 2009… [more]

Welcome to the fifty-first post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Washington DC, which is really making me angry right now. Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Washington, DC and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Washington, DC? Any person may adopt. When May Consent Be Signed? Three days after the birth of the child. How Much Time Do the Birth Parents Have to Revoke Consent? 10 calendar days. Does Washington, DC Have a Putative Father Registry? No. Does Washington, DC Allow the Biological Father to… [more]

Welcome to the fiftieth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Wyoming, home of Harrison Ford (mmmmmm). Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Wyoming and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Wyoming? Any adult person who has been a resident of Wyoming for at least 60 days and is approved to adopt may adopt. When May Consent Be Signed? Anytime after the birth of the child. How Much Time Do the Birth Parents Have to Revoke Consent? Consent is irrevocable, unless the court denies… [more]

Welcome to the forty-ninth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Wisconsin, which has the robin as the state bird. (I like Wisconsin better now.) Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Wisconsin and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Wisconsin? A husband and wife or an unmarried adult may adopt. When May Consent Be Signed? Consent may be signed any time after the child is born. However, a court hearing must take place within 30 days of the filing of the petition… [more]

Welcome to the forty-eighth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in West Virginia, a much maligned state that is actually quite pretty. Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in West Virginia and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In West Virginia? Single individuals and married couples may adopt. When May Consent Be Signed? 72 hours after the birth of the child. How Much Time Do the Birth Parents Have to Revoke Consent? Consent is essentially irrevocable. Does West Virginia Have a Putative Father Registry? No. Does West Virginia… [more]

Welcome to the forty-sixth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Virginia. We should have been there last week, but it had to happen - I forgot a state. (Thank you Amanda for reminding me.) Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Virginia and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Virginia? To adopt in Virginia, you must fall into at least one of the following categories:

• resident of Virginia
• a person with custody of a child placed by a child-placing agency
• an adopting parent of a

Welcome to the forty-seventh post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Washington, home to Microsoft, where I interned in 1996. (But they don't hire tech writers anymore, sadly.) Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Washington and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Washington? Any person who is over the age of 18 and is legally competent may adopt. When May Consent Be Signed? Consent may be signed any time before the birth of the child. However, it cannot be executed until 2… [more]

Welcome to the forty-fifth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Vermont, which is really beautiful in October. Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Vermont and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Vermont? Any person may adopt in Vermont. When May Consent Be Signed? 36 hours after the child is born. How Much Time Do the Birth Parents Have to Revoke Consent? Consent is irrevocable 21 days after the consent was signed. Does Vermont Have a Putative Father Registry? No. Does Vermont Allow the Biological Father to… [more]

Welcome to the forty-fifth post in our series Adopting In the 50 States. Today, we're in Utah,  the 11th largest state in the US. Remember, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Consult an attorney or other adoption professional with specific questions. If you have adopted in Utah and would like to share your experience with others, please leave a comment or email me at RobynC@adoptionblogs.com. Who May Adopt In Utah? Legally married couples may adopt. Single adults who are not cohabiting with another single adult may adopt. At least one adoptive parent must be more than 10 years older than the child being adopted. When May Consent Be Signed? The birth father can sign anytime. The birth mother… [more]