Liverpool City Council - Who can adopt?

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Who can adopt?

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Girl about 12

Who can adopt?

Not everyone, but you might be surprised that it's not just married couples who adopt - single people and cohabiting couples can adopt, and we don't discriminate on the grounds of class, race, culture, sexual orientation or disability either. However you must:

  • Be aged over 21 and mature enough to meet the demands of parenthood.

  • Be in reasonably good health, there is no upper age limit but applicants must be fit and well enough to care for children into adulthood.

  • Be able to offer a secure home with a spare room or rooms for one or more children. You don't have to own your own home.

  • Have the time and ability to parent an adopted child.  Applicants can be working or not working but helping to settle a child into the new family will mean you will need to take time off work at first.

You have not been with your partner very long

Like all agencies we want children to be adopted into a very secure family environment. Whilst you may be convinced that your relationship with your partner is going to last, Adoption Agencies prefer to see a relationship that has a significant history and many will want to select applicants who have been together for at least two years or more. This gives the agency an indication of how, as a couple, you have coped with problems and adversity, how you bring different strengths to your relationship, how you support one another and make decisions.