What you need to know about...
Adopting in California
Adoption in California
California is incredibly generous with their support for Birth Moms. There are not official guidelines for dictating how long expenses can be covered by Adoptive parents, but they are allowed to cover medical, legal, counseling, living. (Note: Payments in connection with placement for adoption or consent to adoption prohibited.) No wonder it's called, "The Golden State."
Home Study Providers in California
2 Home Study Providers in CA
$2,800 Average Home Study Cost
28 days Average Home Study Duration
PairTree Home Study
The Modern Way to Home Study
Adoption Attorneys in California
20 Adoption Agencies in CA
17 
AAAA Attorneys in CA
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Who’s Waiting to Adopt in California
Pregnant? Call/Text us at
(206) 279-7578
Personality Type
Most Common Personality Types Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Data is from LifePair™ - Our proprietary, personality-based matching system.
Average Age
37 years old
Profession
Most Common Professions Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Family Structure
Political Affiliation
Education
Race
Find Families
Browse profiles and get to know our hopeful parents.
Traveling For Your Adoption in California
Length of ICPC
in California
1-30 days
California adheres to the Interstate Compact On The Placement of Children (ICPC) – a uniform law in all 50 States that establishes procedures for the interstate placement of children. The ICPC also places specific responsibilities on those involved in placing the children. The three principle goals of the ICPC are to:
Protect the children being placed.
Ensure that they receive the services they need.
Facilitate permanent placements for those children who are in state custody
Adoption Law FAQ in California
Advertising Law Info
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Can adoptive parents advertise for birth parents?
No.
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State Advertising Code of Law
Citation: Family Code § 8609(a)
No person or organization may advertise in any periodical or newspaper, by radio, or other public medium that he, she, or it will place or provide children for adoption or cause any advertisement to be published in any public medium soliciting, requesting, or asking for any child or children for adoption, unless that person or organization is licensed to place children for adoption by the Department of Social Services.
Adoption Law Info
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Who Can Adopt?
A child may be adopted by an adult who is at least 10 years older than the child. An exception to this requirement may be made if the adoptive parent is a stepparent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the child and, if that person is married, is adopting jointly with his or her spouse.
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Can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption?
Yes, if placing birth mother resided in California at time of consent when petition is filed.
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Can adopting parents use an adoption facilitator or another paid intermediary?
Yes. Fees and expenses paid must be reported to the court.
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What birth parent expenses may be paid, and in what time period?
Medical, legal, counseling, living. No official guidelines. Payments in connection with placement for adoption or consent to adoption prohibited.
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When does consent become irrevocable? If consent is revoked, is return to birth parent automatic?
1) Private: 30 days after signing, unless birth parent waives the right to revoke, in which case irrevocable upon signing.
2) Agency: After Department of Social Servicesâ acknowledgement of the relinquishment, which is deemed 10 business days after receipt, if not acknowledge earlier. -
Qualifications for Adoptive Parents for adoption
Citation: Fam. Code § 8601
A child may be adopted by an adult who is at least 10 years older than the child. An exception to this requirement may be made if the adoptive parent is a stepparent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the child and, if that person is married, is adopting jointly with his or her spouse.
Home Study Info
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Elements of a Home Study for Adoption
Citation: Fam. Code §§ 8811; 9001
Each person filing an adoption petition must submit fingerprints and obtain from an appropriate law enforcement agency any criminal record to establish whether he or she has ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.
The criminal record, if any, shall be taken into consideration when evaluating the prospective adoptive parent, and an assessment of the effects of any criminal history on the ability of the prospective adoptive parent to provide adequate and proper care and guidance to the child shall be included in the report to the court.
A home study shall be conducted that consists of a physical investigation of the premises where the child will reside. -
Grounds for Withholding Approval for Adoption
Citation: Fam. Code § 8811; 8822
Under no circumstances shall the Department of Social Services or a delegated county adoption agency give final approval for an adoptive placement in any home where the prospective adoptive parent or any adult living in the prospective adoptive home has either of the following:
• A felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against a child including child pornography, or for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide
• A felony conviction that occurred within the past 5 years for physical assault, battery, or a drug- or alcohol-related offense
The department or delegated county adoption agency may find that the home of the petitioners is not suitable for the child and recommend that the petition be denied. -
When Home Studies Must Be Completed for Adoption
This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.
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Postplacement Study Requirements for Adoption
Citation: Calif. DSS Manual, Regs. 35299 through 35309
The agency shall supervise the adoptive placement of the child with the prospective adoptive parent unless the child was adopted abroad. The supervision shall commence when the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parent and continue until a final decree of adoption is granted or the child is removed from the home of the prospective adoptive parent.
The duration of the supervisory period shall be no less than 6 months unless:
• The adoptive parent has successfully completed the adoption of another child in California within the past 5 years.
• The adoptive parent is in the military service of the United States or is employed by the American Red Cross and completion of the 6-month supervisory period would delay completion of an adoption that the agency has determined should be completed.
During the supervisory period, the agency shall provide the following services as needed to the prospective adoptive parent and to the adoptive child so that the child may be integrated successfully into the family:
• Liaisons between the family and schools, mental and physical health agencies, rehabilitation service agencies, and other community resources
• Updates of the psychological and medical history form to reflect any additional information revealed during the supervisory period
• Updates of the assessment of the child to reflect any additional information discovered during the supervisory period
During the supervisory period, the agency shall conduct at least one interview in the home of the prospective adoptive parent with the parent and the adoptive child. The agency shall conduct at least three additional interviews with the prospective adoptive parent unless the duration of the supervisory period has been reduced to less than 6 months.