Who Can Adopt?
Pennsylvania laws are less strict when it comes to their adoption rules about who can adopt. They don't prohibit an adult from adopting. The state is pretty open. Depending on the situation, some minors can adopt also. This tends to occur most often when they decide to adopt one of their younger siblings. Unmarried couples typically aren't eligible for adoptions in the state. For a married couple to adopt, both of the parties have to adopt. However, one spouse can give the other one permission if they choose to do so.
Are There Any Residency Requirements?
One of the great parts about adopting in Pennsylvania is that you don't have to worry about a lot of strict residency requirements or waiting periods. You can adopt right away on average. However, the adoption agency can ask that a temporary placement be granted before finalizing the adoption.
Are There Any Consent Requirements?
Most of the time, the birth parents have to give their consent for the adoption to take place. There are situations where a child can be removed from the home, which negates the parents having to give their consent. Children over 12 and adults have to give their consent as well.
Adoption laws in Pennsylvania aren't all that complicated in the area of who may or may not be adopted. This means an adult can be adopted too. There are some areas about Pennsylvania adoption laws that can be difficult to navigate and we wrote about them here. However, you do want to make sure you are in line with what the process entails. If you have any questions, you can discuss them with a licensed adoption attorney to make sure nothing is left to chance.
To learn more about Pennsylvania adoption laws, contact our Adoptions From The Heart offices in:
Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533
Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200
Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384
