Who can adopt? Checklist
Adoption is open to people with a whole range of backgrounds and life experiences, who are capable of giving a child a happy home. There is a broad criterion to determine who can and cannot adopt. It is more about the person’s capabilities and potential that make them suitable to adopt a child.
In the UK, there are thousands of children, coming from a wide variety of religions and ethnic backgrounds, who need to be adopted.
To be able to adopt a child, you should be aware of some of the following:
- A person can adopt if they are aged 21 or over (no upper age limit)
- You can still adopt if you are single or an unmarried couple
- Married couples, civil partners, and couples in a long-term relationships can adopt
- Disabilities or health issues do not automatically bar you from adoption
- Individuals from any ethnic or religious background can adopt
- Any individual can still adopt if they already have children
- You should be legally resident in the UK, the Channel of Islands, or the Isle of Man, or have been domiciled for 12 months
- A person can adopt even if they are a homeowner or live in a rented apartment, however, a spare bedroom for an adopted child is required
Who can be adopted?
Similar to the eligibility criteria for adoption, a child must meet requirements to be adopted:
- The child must be under 18 years of age at the time when the adoption application is made
- The child must not be (or never have been) married or in a civil partnership
The biological parents must agree to the adoption unless they cannot be found or are incapable of giving consent.
Do you have to be a British citizen to adopt a child?
Fortunately, any individual thinking of adoption does not have to be a British citizen, however;
- The person or their partner must have a permanent home in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
- Prior to the adoption application process, the individual must have lived in the UK for a minimum of 1 year
Criminal Record and Adoption
Having a criminal record would not necessarily rule someone out, however, it would be carefully looked into when determining the eligibility of an applicant.
If a person or any member of their household has a criminal conviction against children or serious sexual offences, they will be automatically excluded from adopting a child.
