Adoption Laws by State

United States laws for the adoption of children by state. For an easier time finding the adoption law in your state, write down the description found below the link before clicking!

Adoption Code of Alabama 1975, Title 26, Chapter 10, Sections 26-10A-1 to 26-10A-38.

Alaska Statutes (1999), 25.23.005 to 25.23.240. For information on biological parents see Sections 18.50.500; 18.50.510.

Arizona Revised Statutes, Chapter 1, Article 1, Sections 8-101 to 8-135; 8-141 to 8-145; 8-161 to 8-166; 8-171 to 8-173.

Go to Arkansas Code then on to Family Law Title 9, Subtitle 2, Sections 9-9-101 to 9-9-103; 9-9-201 to 9-9-224; 9-9-301 to 9-9-303; 9-9-401 to 9-9-412; 9-9-501 to 9-9-508. Make sure to be in HTML and not JAVA to be able to read the code.

California General Laws, Family Law Code, Sections 8500 to 8548. More adoption code is found here: 8600 to 9206; 9300 to 9340.

Go to Colorado Revised Statutes then on to Title 19, Children's Code, Article 5 Sections 19-5-200.2 to 19-5-216; 19-5-301 to 19-5-306; 19-5-402 to 19-5-403 and 25-2-113.5.

General Statutes of Connecticut (1998), Sections 45a-706 to 45a-770

Delaware Code, Title 13, Sections 901 to 932. See 961 to 965 for information on non-identifying information needed in adoption searches.

District of Columbia Code (1999), Division II, Title 16 Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters, Chapter 3, Sections 16-301 to 16-315.

Florida Statutes (1998), Title VI, Chapter 63, Sections 63.012 to 63.301.

Georgia code, Sections 19-8-1 to 19-8-26.

Hawaii Revised Statutes, Sections 578-1 to 578-17. Use the "next" button at the bottom of the page to browse through each section.

Idaho Statutes, Sections 16-1501 to 16-1515.

Illinois Compiled Statutes (1998), 750, 50/0.01 to 750, 50/24.

Indiana Code (1998), Sections 31-19-1-1 to 31-19-29-6.

Iowa Code (1998), Sections 600.1 to 600.25.

Kansas Statutes (1998), Chapter 59 in scroll down box, Article 21, Sections 59-2111 to 59-2144.

Kentucky Revised Statutes (1998), Sections 199.470 to 199.590.

Louisiana Revised Statues, Sections 40:72 to 40:79; Ch.C. Title XII, art. 1167 to 1278. Use the "next" link to move throughout the articles dealing with adoption.

Maine Revised Statutes (1999), Title 18-A, Sections 9-101 to 9-108; 9-201 to 9-205; 9-301 to 9-315; 9-401 to 9-404; Title 22, Sections 2706-A; 2765; 4171 to 4176; 8201 to 8206

Maryland Statutes (1999) Family Law, Sections 5-301 to 5-330; 5-401 to 5-415; 5-4A-01 to 5-4A-08; 5-4B-01 to 5-4B-12; 5-4C-01 to 5-4C-07. Use the "next" link to move to other articles within the code.

Massachusetts General Laws (1998), Chapter 210, Sections 1 to 11A.

Use the Michigan Compiled Laws search box to enter the articles you want to read. Adoption law is covered in Act 203 of 1994 Sections 722.951-722.960.

Minnesota Statutes (1999), Sections 259.20 to 259.89.

Mississippi Code of 1972 (1999), Sections 93-17-1 to 93-17-22.

Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 453, Sections 453.005 to 453.503.

Montana Code Annotated 1999, Sections 42-1-101 to 42-8-108; 42-10-101 to 42-10-128.

Nebraska Revised Statutes, Sections 43-101 to 43-165.

Nevada Revised Statutes (1999), Sections 127.003 to 127.186; 127.220 to 127.420.

New Hampshire Revised Statutes (1999), Sections 170-B:1 to 170-B:26.

New Jersey Revised Statutes (1999), Sections 9:3-38 to 9:3-55.

New Mexico Statutes (1999), Statutory Chapters in New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978, Chapter 32A, Article 5, Sections 32A-5-1 to 32A-5-45. Use the "next doc" to move through the articles dealing with adoption.

New York State Consolidated Laws, Domestic Relations Chapter 14, Article 7, Title 1-4; Social Services Chapter 55, Article 6, Title 1, Sections 372-374a; Public Health Chapter 45, Article 41, Title 3, Section 4138.

North Carolina General Statutes (1999), Sections 48-1-100 to 48-4-105; 48-6-100 to 48-6-102; 48-9-101 to 48-10-105.

North Dakota Century Code (1999), Sections 14-15-01 to 14-15-23.

Go to Ohio Revised Code (1999), Title XXXI Domestic Relations, Adoption, Sections 3107.01 to 3107.99.

Oklahoma Statutes Annotated (1999), Title 10, Sections 7501-1.1 to 7506-1.2; 7509-1.1 to 7510-3.3. Use the "next" link to move from article to article.

Oregon Revised Statutes (1999), Sections 109.304 to 109.507; 432.425 to 432.420.

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (1999), Title 23, Sections 2101 to 2910.

General Laws of Rhode Island (1999), Sections 15-7-2 to 15-7-26; 15-7.1-1 to 15-7.1-4; 15-7.2-1 to 15-7.2-15.

Code of Laws of South Carolina (1999), Sections 20-7-1650 to 20-7-1897.

Go to Title List, Title 25 - Domestic Relations, Chapter 6, Sections 25-6-1 to 25-6-23; 25-6A-1 to 25-6A-14.

Go to Legislation, Tennessee Code, Title 71, Chapter 3, Sections 36-1-102 to 36-1-305.

Texas Family Code (1999), Title 5, Chapter 162, Sections 162.001 to 162.025; 162.101 to 162.107; 162.201 to 162.206; 162.301 to 162.309; 162.401 to 162.422.

Utah Code Annotated, Sections 78-30-1 to 78-30-19.

Vermont Statutes (1999), Title 15A, Sections 1-101 to 4-113; 6-102 to 7-105.

Go to Code of Virginia, Table of Contents, Title 63, Chapter 12, 63.2-1200 to 63.2-1248.

Revised Code of Washington(RCW), Sections 26.33.020 to 26.33.901; 26.34.010 to 26.34.080.

West Virginia Code (1999), Chapter 48 Sections 48-22-501 to 48-23-701.

Chapter 48, Sections 48.40 to 48.975.

Wyoming Statutes (1999), Sections 1-22-101 to 1-22-203.