Successful, loving parents come from many walks of life. The ability and desire to love a child and the means to provide a clean, safe, and stable environment are essential.

Marital Status

• Married couples need to have been married for at least a year in a marriage legally recognized in the state of Utah.
• Single parents must not be in a cohabiting relationship.
• Step parents must be married to the custodial parent of the child in a marriage legally recognized in the state of Utah.

Income

• You must be above the federal poverty line for desired family size after completing your adoption.
• Your financial stability will be assessed individually

Age

• You must be a legal adult.
• You must be at least ten years older than your adoptive child.

Physical Health

• You must be medically able to handle the day-to-day rigors of childcare.
• You must have a sufficient life expectancy to raise a child.

Mental Health

• You must have stable mental health.
• Addictions will be assessed.

Background Screening

• You must be able to pass a Utah criminal history screening.
• You must be able to pass a DCFS child abuse background screening.
• You must be able to pass an FBI criminal history screening.

Parenting

• You must be providing for the needs of any children currently in your home.
• You must be honoring any obligations to children from previous relationships.

Home

• You may rent or own.
• You must have a clean and safe environment for a child.

International adoptions have their own additional requirements, based on the country you are adopting from.

Begin Your Adoption StoryOr learn about Utah Home Studies or the Home Study Process