Can you adopt if you are single?
Differs by state or province
Yes. This is one of the most common reasons people talk
themselves out of enquiring, and it is based on a rule that does not
exist in most places.
What the agencies say
AdoptUSKids answers this directly: no, you do not need
to be married. Texas states applicants may be single or married.
Illinois includes people who are “married, in a civil union, single,
divorced, or separated”. New York considers marital status only
where it affects the ability to provide adequate care. British
Columbia states plainly that marital status and sexual orientation
do not matter, and that any one adult, or two adults jointly, may
apply.
The one place with a real rule
What is actually assessed
Not your relationship status, but your capacity and your
support. Expect questions about who helps when you are ill, who
collects the child if you are held up, and what your network looks
like. Single applicants who answer those well are approved
routinely.
You will also need to show you can support your household without
relying on adoption assistance to do it. That is a stability test,
not an income threshold.
Getting the answer for your area
Eligibility, timelines and money are set locally, and
they are finally confirmed by the licensed agency for your state or
province. We can tell you what those rules currently say where you
live, what they will mean in practice for your household, and what
to have ready before you speak to anyone.
Talk to us first. Tell us which state or province you
are in and what you are trying to decide, and we will explain what applies
where you live, what the next step is, and what to expect from it. There is
no cost and no obligation. Contact Foster Care
Adoption Home, or start your application
when you are ready.
Everything on this page is checked against the official source for each
jurisdiction, and those sources are listed below so you can read the wording
for yourself. We would rather you have both: our explanation of what it
means, and the original to confirm it against.
United States. AdoptUSKids publishes a page for every
state, plus DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Cherokee
Nation, naming the responsible agency in each.
Read the state pages.
Canada. There is no national system, so the rules are
published province by province:
- Ontario, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Local body: a children’s aid society.
- British Columbia, Adopt BC Kids, MCFD.
- Alberta, Children and Family Services.
- Quebec, Director of Youth Protection, via the Banque mixte programme.
- Manitoba, Department of Families.
- Saskatchewan, Ministry of Social Services.
- Nova Scotia, Department of Community Services.
If your province is not listed here we have not finished verifying it, and
we would rather say so than guess. Ask us and we will find the current
answer for you. The Adoption Council of Canada
is the national umbrella body, though it is not a regulator.
Sources
- AdoptUSKids, frequently asked questions
- Texas DFPS, adoption and foster care requirements
- Illinois DCFS, foster care
- New York OCFS, foster care requirements
- Adopt BC Kids, Ministry of Children and Family Development
- Quebec, about adoption
Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on 20 August 2026. Rules change. If you are making a decision, confirm the detail with the agency responsible for your area.
