ADOPTION LAWS 
Adoption laws differ from state to state. These laws govern everything from the adoption process to placement practices to search and reunion. It’s important that hopeful adoptive parents, parents who are expecting a baby and considering placing him or her for adoption, and people searching for birth family members become familiar with these laws. If you have a question about the laws in your state, contact an attorney familiar with adoption law in your area.
      
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                        
                           
                              
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Criminal Background Checks
                         
                        
                           
                              
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Termination of Parental Rights
                         
                        
                           
                              
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                                 Oregon 
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                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
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                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
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                                 Washington 
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                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
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                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Domestic Adoption Expenses
                         
                        
                           
                              
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                                 Alabama 
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                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Rights of Unmarried Fathers
                         
                        
                           
                              
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                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
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                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Advertising & Facilitators
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Who May Be Part of Adoption
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Access to Adoption Records
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Adoptee Inheritance Rights
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Post Adoption Contact Agreements
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Readoption After International Adoption
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
       
                                                                  
         
            
                              
                   
                
             
            
               
                                       
                        
                           
Application for a U.S. Birth Certificate
                         
                        
                           
                              
                                 Select State 
                                 Alabama 
                                 Alaska 
                                 Arizona 
                                 Arkansas 
                                 California 
                                 Colorado 
                                 Connecticut 
                                 Delaware 
                                 District of Columbia 
                                 Florida 
                                 Georgia 
                                 Hawaii 
                                 Idaho 
                                 Illinois 
                                 Indiana 
                                 Iowa 
                                 Kansas 
                                 Kentucky 
                                 Louisiana 
                                 Maine 
                                 Maryland 
                                 Massachusetts 
                                 Michigan 
                                 Minnesota 
                                 Mississippi 
                                 Missouri 
                                 Montana 
                                 Nebraska 
                                 Nevada 
                                 New Hampshire 
                                 New Jersey 
                                 New Mexico 
                                 New York 
                                 North Carolina 
                                 North Dakota 
                                 Ohio 
                                 Oklahoma 
                                 Oregon 
                                 Pennsylvania 
                                 Rhode Island 
                                 South Carolina 
                                 South Dakota 
                                 Tennessee 
                                 Texas 
                                 Utah 
                                 Vermont 
                                 Virginia 
                                 Washington 
                                 West Virginia 
                                 Wisconsin 
                                 Wyoming 
                               
                           
                         
                      
                                  
             
          
          
 
Adoption Laws, Rules & Regulations – National & State
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