For any hopeful adoptive parent to adopt a child in NH, they’ll first need to meet the requirements to adopt in New Hampshire, which can vary depending on the adoption professional that you work with as well as the type of adoption that you choose.

First, you can learn more about our agency's NH adoption requirements for married or unmarried persons by calling 1-800-ADOPTION or filling out our free online form today.

For now, some of the most common questions that prospective adoptive parents ask about the requirements for adopting a child in New Hampshire are listed below. The answers to those questions can help you learn if you meet the state-mandated qualifications to adopt in NH:

Do I have to be married to adopt in New Hampshire?

No. Unmarried individuals may petition to adopt in NH as well as married couples.

If you are married but are petitioning to adopt without your spouse, you may do so if you’re a stepparent to the adoptee, you’re legally separated from your spouse, the adoptee is over 18 and the spouse assents, or if the court excuses the other spouse from participating due to that person’s absence, unavailability or unreasonably withholding their assent to the adoption.

Remember that individual adoption professionals typically have their own set of adoption qualifications regarding an adoptive parents’ marital status. American Adoptions, for example, requires that adoptive couples be married for a minimum of two years before they adopt, although exceptions have been made.

To learn more about our agency's NH adoption requirements for married or unmarried persons, call 1-800-ADOPTION or contact us online.

Can same-sex couples adopt in New Hampshire?

Yes. Same-sex couples and LGBT individuals can adopt the same as any other couple or individual in New Hampshire. Again, individual adoption professionals often have their own preferences regarding the adoptive families that they accept.

American Adoptions welcomes LGBT families who want to adopt a child in New Hampshire. Call 1-800-ADOPTION or reach out to one of our professionals online.

How old do you have to be to adopt in New Hampshire? Is there an adoption age limit?

There is no specified minimum age or adoption age limit within New Hampshire adoption laws, although adoption professionals have their own age requirements for prospective adoptive parents.

To adopt from foster care in New Hampshire, for example, you must be at least 21 years old. You must be between 22 and 50 years old in order to adopt through American Adoptions, although exceptions have been made in some circumstances

To learn more about our age requirements to adopt in New Hampshire, contact us now.

Can a felon adopt a child in New Hampshire?

In the early stages of the adoption process, all prospective adoptive parents must complete the home study process in order to be approved to adopt in the U.S. The home study process includes criminal background checks, fingerprinting, abuse registry checks and more.

However, a criminal record doesn’t automatically prevent you from adopting in New Hampshire. Your social worker will examine your individual case with the court to determine if you can provide a safe home for a child. You’ll first need to apply through an adoption agency to reach this stage of the process, so call to receive more information.

What do I need to adopt a child in New Hampshire? And how hard is it to adopt a baby?

All potential adoptive parents will need to meet the standard legal adoption requirements in New Hampshire, but adoption professionals also take into consideration these additional requirements to adopt a child:

Health Requirements to Adopt in NH

Your home study will include adoption requirements like submitting up-to-date health records. This is done to ensure that you’re mentally and physically healthy enough to meet the demands of caring for a child.

Financial Adoption Requirements in NH

The home study also includes submitting financial statements. Adoptive parents don’t need to be wealthy. This is done to ensure that you’re financially stable enough to provide for a child’s needs.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting a Child in NH

Although it’s not as easy to prove with a piece of paper, your emotional readiness for adoption is one of the most important requirements for adopting a child in New Hampshire. Meeting the emotional requirements to adopt a child in New Hampshire is the strongest indicator that your adoption will be successful.

Some of the emotional requirements to adopt you’ll want to consider include:

• Facing any grief from infertility that you may have experienced.

• Uniting with your spouse about your goals and expectations for the adoption.

• Releasing your old dream of having a biological child so that you can fully focus on your new adoption dream.

• Educating yourself about how to share a strong post-adoption relationship with your child’s birth family.

• Preparing yourself emotionally for the NH adoption process and for raising adopted children.

• Remaining committed to the NH adoption process, with all its challenges and benefits.

Do you meet our agency's qualifications for adoption in New Hampshire? Are you ready to get started today? Request free adoption information online or call us at 1-800-ADOPTION now to learn more about how to adopt a baby in NH with American Adoptions.

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