Adoption Requirements in Indiana [and How to Meet Them]

Indiana adoption requirements are in place to make sure adoptive children are placed in a safe, supportive environment.

Reviewing these requirements can help you prepare your home and family for the process ahead, creating a smooth and straightforward path to welcome your new child into your home.

In this list, we’ll take you through the requirements for adopting a child in the Hoosier state and show you how simple adoption can be.

Get in touch with our Brownsburg or Indianapolis office and our experienced specialists will guide you through every step of the adoption process.

What are the Requirements to Adopt in Indiana?

Let’s get a brief overview of the requirements for adoption before we go into details:

What are the Rules for Adoption in Indiana?

• You need to be a resident.
• You must participate in a home study.
• You must complete a training course.
• There are no marriage restrictions.
• There are no age restrictions.
• There are no provisions against LGBTQ adoptions.
• Certain criminal convictions could disqualify you.

Requirements for Adopting a Child [FAQ]

 

What are Indiana’s Age Requirements for Adoption?

There are no age requirements for adoption in Indiana; however, some adoption agencies do have adoption age requirements. These might be provisions requiring you to be above and/or below a certain age. For example, some agencies may only work with people older than 21 and younger than 50.

What are Indiana’s Adoption Marriage Requirements?

There are no adoption marriage requirements in Indiana. Indiana also allows joint adoption between unmarried domestic partners. You can also adopt as an individual parent.

What are Indiana’s Financial Requirements for Adoption?

There are no financial requirements for adoption in Indiana; however, the adoption process itself may incur significant costs. Make sure you are financially prepared with this guide.

What are Indiana’s Health Requirements for Adoption?

There are no health requirements for adoption in Indiana. Some prospective parents may be worried about BMI requirements for adoption or other health issues potentially keeping them from adopting, but those decisions are between you and your doctor. The state of Indiana will not block you from adopting for health concerns.

Depending on who conducts your home study, they may ask for a statement from a doctor describing your overall health, but it is important to remember that this will not disqualify you from adopting a child.

What are Indiana’s Housing Requirements for Adoption?

There are a few physical housing requirements for adoption in Indiana that are checked during your home study and a visit by a social worker to your home to ensure it’s safe for children.

They include basic safety checks, verifying things like functional smoke detectors, locking doors and windows and covered outlets. Additionally, if there is a health risk in your home such as lead paint, you’ll need to remove it before the home study. It’s a good idea to baby-proof your house before a home study if pursuing an infant adoption.

Most of the home requirements for adoption have more to do with you, your lifestyle and your criminal record than with the physical house. If you still have questions about this process, you can get ahold of our local staff for help preparing for a home study.

Get more home study information

Can You Adopt in Indiana as a Non-Resident?

This depends on your state of legal residence. You cannot adopt through the Indiana state government as a non-resident of Indiana, however, Indiana does not have provisions against residents from other states adopting children while living in Indiana.

If this is your situation, you’ll need to check the laws of your state of legal residence to see if they allow you to adopt while living out of state – though, depending on your circumstance, it may be simpler to declare residency in Indiana by getting a state ID or driver’s license.

Do You Need an Adoption License to Adopt in Indiana?

Yes. An adoption license can be obtained by completing a 16-hour training course hosted by Child Protective Services.

What Disqualifies You from Adopting in Indiana?

There are four criminal offenses or combinations of offenses that automatically disqualify you from being able to adopt in Indiana. They are:

• Any child safety-related misdemeanor.
• Any felony conviction in your background.
• Four or more misdemeanor convictions.
• Juvenile offenses that would have been felonies.

Is a Home Study Required for Private Adoption in Indiana?

Yes, a home study is required for private adoption by Indiana law. A home study is a process where a social worker:

• Conducts interviews with you and members of your family. They’ll ask questions about your lifestyle, personal history, relationships and your mindset going into this adoption.
• Inspects your home for safety issues. They check for things like lead paint, smoke detectors, and baby gates
• Performs a comprehensive document review. They will need access to significant documentation from your life including birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates of any immediate family, income verification, written reference letters from friends and an autobiographical statement.
• Complete a background check. Certain criminal convictions can disqualify you from adopting in Indiana.

A home study doesn’t need to be stressful. We have licensed staff that runs home studies out of our Indianapolis and Brownsburg offices. If you’re preparing for a home study, reach out to us. Here’s where you can find us:

Indianapolis

9465 Counselors Row, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46240

1-800-ADOPTION

Brownsburg

5724 N Green St, 2nd Floor
Brownsburg, IN 46112

1-800-ADOPTION

We are happy to help you prepare, and can even set up a free consultation before the home study to make sure you have everything you need ahead of time. Get in touch to start your home study today, and start making progress toward your adoption.

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