Adoption eligibility criteria

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What are the legal requirements for prospective adopters?

There are three ‘eligibility criteria’ which apply:

1. Minimum age – an individual or both if a couple must be over 21 years of age.
2. Specified offences – where an individual or another member of their household has committed or been cautioned for a specified criminal offence at age 18 or over, they will not be considered eligible to adopt.
3. Residency – a couple must have been habitually resident in part of the British Isles for at least one year ending with the date of the application to the court for an Adoption Order.

Last updated: 26 July 2010