Adoption in Minnesota

Minnesota adoption offers many options to families. You may adopt an infant or older child through an international adoption, an infant through domestic adoption, or an older child or special needs child through domestic foster care adoption. All adoptions require a home study.

Minnesota Adoption Home Study

A home study is a bit like an investigation. You are required to submit to background checks, fingerprinting, financial means verification, as well as very personal discussions about your marriage or divorce (if applicable), your child hood, family relationships, and parenting styles, along with checking to make sure your home meets size and safety regulations.

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Who May Adopt In Minnesota

There are few regulations on adoptive parents. Adoptive parents may be single, married, or same sex partners. If you are married, you must have been married for at least one year. Adoptive parents must be at least 21 years old but, there is generally no upper age limit placed on the adopting parents.

Minnesota Older Child Or Special Needs Adoption

There are children who are waiting for a family. They are currently living in foster care or other out of home placements. These children are considered special needs even if they do not have a physical or emotional disability. For the purposes of adoption, a special needs qualification also applies to children who harder to place because of their age, ethnic background, or because they are part of a sibling group that needs to be placed together.

As part of the home study and application process, adoptive parents are also required to complete a Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) class and the Deciding Together curriculum, and may also be required to take the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 2 (MMPI-2).

International Adoption In Minnesota

When adopting internationally there is a large age range of children available. There are some factors to consider since each country has its own laws. Some countries limit the age of people that are allowed to adopt, and others do not allow adoptions of younger children. This will help you determine the country that you are interested in adopting from, and will also help determine which agencies you should use. Be sure to choose an agency who has experience in adoptions from that country.

Minnesota Infant Adoption

Adopting an infant in Delaware requires an adoption agency or an attorney for both the birth parents and the adopting parents. When choosing an attorney, be sure to use an attorney who is skilled in adoptions.

If you are unable to care for your child, and unable to make an adoption plan, you may leave your newborn, within 72 hours of birth at a hospital.

Minnesota Adoption Registry

If you are an adult over the age 19 who was adopted in Minnesota or a birth parent who placed a child for adoption in Minnesota and the child is now over the age of 19, you may ask the Minnesota Department of Health to assist you in a post adoption search.

The department will only release information if both parties have registered. You may contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services to request information. You may also request the booklet “Practice Guide for Post Adoption Search Services” to gain detailed information on search and reunion practices in Minnesota.

Back to the main Minnesota Adoption page.