For prospective parents, the decision to adopt a child as a single woman or man is becoming increasingly common. As with two-parent families, the desire for single parent adoption is rooted in love, hope, and the desire to create or expand a family. If you’re an unmarried woman or man considering adoption in North Carolina, you might be asking, “Can I adopt as a single mom or dad?”

The short answer is yes: North Carolina, home to thousands of single parent families, allows single parent adoption. However, single mothers and fathers, like all adoptive parents, should understand every important factor in the legal process as they prepare to bring a child or baby home. Additionally, it’s wise for single hopeful parents to consider other critical factors, such as having a solid support system, determining how to handle childcare, and balancing future career goals with single parenting.

At Mills Adoption Law, we understand the unique challenges and questions arising from single adoption. With over 35 years of experience in adoption law, we have represented all members of the adoption triad, including adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees. This blog, for single adoptive parents, from Raleigh, NC adoption lawyer, Bobby Mills, explains the legalities and explores the unique considerations for a single person seeking to create an adoptive family.

Is Single-Parent Adoption Legal in North Carolina?

As mentioned, the state of North Carolina allows a single woman or man to adopt a child. Regardless of your gender or sexual orientation, the law focuses on your ability to financially support and provide a safe, loving, and stable environment for a child, rather than your marital status. The state bases adoption eligibility on factors like your age, financial stability, and preparedness for creating a healthy work-life balance as you assume this life-changing responsibility.

While North Carolina does not impose specific legal restrictions that prevent single parents from adopting, the process includes a thorough background check, a home study, and other evaluations to confirm your readiness to meet the needs of a child.

The Single Parent Adoption Process

Single parent adoption in North Carolina involves several steps. While the process might feel overwhelming at first, it’s absolutely manageable with the right legal counsel and a robust support system.

1. Choosing the Right Type of Adoption

Single parents in North Carolina may consider several types of adoption, such as:

Domestic Infant Adoption: Adopting an infant through an agency or direct arrangement with a birth parent.
Foster-to-Adopt: Providing a foster home to a child with the intention to adopt if reunification with biological parents isn’t possible.
Stepparent or Adult Adoption: Formalizing existing parent-child relationships, such as adopting a stepchild or adult child.

Each path comes with its own set of requirements, timelines, and challenges. Mills Adoption Law can help you determine which option aligns best with your goals.

2. Meeting Eligibility Requirements

Adoption agencies and the court will evaluate a single woman or man’s ability to provide for a child’s emotional, physical, and financial well-being. While your marital status won’t be a barrier, you’ll still need to meet other criteria, such as:

Being at least 18 years old.
Having a steady income and financial stability.
Passing a background check and police clearances.
Providing references who can vouch for your parenting potential.

3. Completing a Home Study

The home study involves a licensed social worker visiting your home to:

Assess your living environment.
Review your motivations for adoption.
Discuss your readiness to parent.

You might also be asked about your personal history, lifestyle, and parenting philosophy. While this part of the process can feel intimidating, the adoption professionals at Mills Adoption Law will prepare and support you throughout this phase.

4. Connecting With the Right Opportunities

If you’re pursuing an infant or foster adoption, finding the right match may take some time. It often involves:

Working with an adoption agency or facilitator.
Communicating with birth parents or foster care representatives.
Considering the unique needs of the child you hope to adopt.

5. Finalizing the Adoption

Once you’ve been matched with a child and completed the necessary legal steps, you’ll move toward finalizing the adoption through the court system. Mills Adoption Law helps ensure that every legal requirement is met so that the adoption is secure and permanent from day one.

Challenges Single Men and Women May Face During Adoption

Although single parents are fully capable of providing loving homes, they can encounter specific challenges during the adoption process. Some birth parents may prefer to place their child with two-parent households, or caseworkers might ask if you have a strong support system and if you can provide adequate medical care. For prospective adoptive parents who happen to be single, when a caseworker addresses these concerns with you, they are not trying to exclude you from adopting, they are seeking to place the child in the best possible environment.

When representing single parents, Mills Adoption Law emphasizes their strengths. These strengths include a devotion to parenting and the ability to dedicate quality time to the child, regardless of career commitments like job-related travel, due to a dedicated support network ready to stand by them throughout the adoption journey.

Why Should Single Parents Adopt in North Carolina?

Single-parent adoption offers many rewards. It allows single mothers and single men seeking to be fathers to fulfill their dream of parenthood and provides a child with a loving and secure home. A child does not need a perfect family; they need a family that’s perfect for them. For an adopted child, your commitment, compassion, and ability to provide a stable home matter most.

How Mills Adoption Law Can Help with Single Parent Adoption

For single parents seeking to adopt a child, the legal process can feel daunting, but you don’t have to face it alone. With more than 35 years of experience in adoption law, Bobby Mills and the staff at Mills Adoption Law stand ready to guide you through a successful single parent adoption. Our law firm offers:

Comprehensive Legal Guidance: From filing paperwork to representing you in court, we handle the legal complexities so you can focus on building your family.
Personalized Support: We acknowledge that every adoption is unique. Our law firm provides solutions tailored to your circumstances, preparing you to meet challenges along the way.
Commitment to Accessibility: At Mills Adoption Law, you work directly with Bobby Mills. His experience working with adoptive and birth parents alike gives him the insight to anticipate and solve potential hurdles.

Contact Mills Adoption Law: Experience for What Matters Most – Family

Single parents, are you ready to begin the adoption process in North Carolina? Have you been searching online for an “adoption lawyer,” “adoption attorneys,” or “adoption lawyers?”

With 35-plus years representing all sides of the adoption triad in North Carolina, attorney Bobby Mills brings extensive insight to every case. He has argued cases at the Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court, served on adoption-related committees, and advocated for legislative change. This background translates into practical strategies that prioritize ethical standards for clients who wish to adopt without compromising the achievement of their ultimate goal of giving children loving, stable homes.

Contact Mills Adoption Law today at (919) 306-2899 or complete our online form to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation.

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Mills Adoption Law
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 306-2899
https://www.millsadoptionlaw.com/

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