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 birth, 5-14 days
- Alaska: Anytime after birth, 10 days
- Arizona: 72 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Arkansas: Anytime after birth, 10 days
- California: Both vary depending on the type of adoption (agency or independent)
- Colorado: Anytime after birth, irrevocable
- Connecticut: 48 hours after birth, up to 30 days
- Delaware: Anytime after birth, 60 days
- Florida: 48 hours after birth or when birthmother is discharged, irrevocable
- Georgia: Anytime after birth, 10 days
- Hawaii: Anytime after the 6th month of pregnancy, irrevocable after child is placed
- Idaho: Anytime after birth, irrevocable
- Illinois: 72 hours after birth for birthmother, irrevocable; anytime for birthfather, 72 hours after birth
- Indiana: Anytime after birth, usually irrevocable
- Iowa: 72 hours after birth, 96 hours
- Kansas: 12 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Kentucky: 72 hours after birth, 20 days
- Louisiana: 5 days after birth, irrevocable (if birthfather signs before birth, then he has 5 days to revoke consent)
- Maine: Anytime after birth (usually 7 to 30 days), irrevocable
- Maryland: 24 hours after birth; 30 days
- Massachusetts: 4 days after birth; irrevocable
- Michigan: Anytime after birth at a hearing; irrevocable
- Minnesota: 72 hours after birth, 10 working days
- Mississippi: 72 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Missouri: 48 hours, until court accepts the TPR (24-72 hours)
- Montana: 72 hours, irrevocable
- Nebraska: 48 hours, irrevocable
- Nevada: 72 hours after birth, irrevocable
- New Hampshire: 72 hours after birth, until the adoption decree is entered
- New Jersey: 72 hours, irrevocable
- New Mexico: 48 hours, irrevocable
- New York: Anytime after birth, 30 to 45 days
- North Carolina: Anytime after birth, 7 days
- North Dakota: Anytime after birth, until the adoption decree is entered
- Ohio: 72 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Oklahoma: Anytime after birth, irrevocable except under certain circumstances
- Oregon: Anytime after birth, irrevocable
- Pennsylvania: 72 hours after birth, 30 days for birthmother; Anytime, 30 days after birth or consent,whichever is later for the birthfather
- Rhode Island: 15 days after birth, technically, 180 days, but consent is not automatically revoked
- South Carolina: 24 hours after birth, irrevocable
- South Dakota: 5 days after birth, 30 days
- Tennessee: 3 days after birth, 10 days
- Texas: 48 hours after birth, varies
- Utah: 24 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Vermont: 36 hours after birth, 21 days
- Virginia: 3 days after birth, 10 days
- Washington: Anytime but cannot be executed until 2 days after birth, 48 hours after consent is signed or 48 hours after the child is born, whichever is later
- West Virginia: 72 hours after birth, irrevocable
- Wisconsin: Anytime after birth, until court approves (up to 30 days)
- Wyoming: Anytime after birth, irrevocable
- Washington, DC: 3 days after birth, 10 days
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States with Putative Father Registries
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States That Allow Biological Fathers to Sign Consent Before Birth
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nevada (if he’s not married to the biological mother)
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma (if he’s not married to the biological mother)
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia (if he’s not married to the biological mother)
- Washington
States That Allow Prospective Adoptive Parents to Advertise
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida (through licensed agency or attorney)
- Illinois (rules are strict, check with attorney first)
- Indiana (through licensed agency)
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina (with an approved home study)
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (with an approved home study)
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington (with an approved home study)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (with an approved home study)
- Wyoming
- Washington, DC
States That Allow Facilitators
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
States with Strict Rules About or Spending Caps On Birthparent Expenses
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
States That Do Not Allow Non-Residents to Finalize
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana (except “hard to place” children)
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States That Allow Open Adoption Agreements
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (only if child was in the care of the state)
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Vermont (stepparent adoptions only)
- Virginia
- Washington
