The Adoption Process in Illinois

The decision to add a child to your family is serious and life changing. By providing a child with a loving and permanent home, adoptive families have discovered the unique joy of making a life-changing difference to a child. It is a feeling you can’t get any other way.

Adoption is a formal legal proceeding which requires the assistance of legal counsel.  Upon successful application to a court, it establishes you as a child’s legal parent with all the rights and responsibilities of a child born to you. Adoption is permanent and lifelong and is only possible when the birth parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights or their rights are terminated by the court.

Who may be adopted: any child (under the age of 18) or any adult residing in the home for at least 2 years.  Consent for adoption is needed for any person age 14 or older.

Who may adopt: any reputable person 18 or older who has resided continuously in Illinois for at least 6 months.  The residency requirement may be waived if you are adopting a relative.  If the Petitioner is married or in a civil union, the spouse or partner must join in the petition.

Adoption proceedings can be complicated and court can be very intimidating for those with no prior experience.  If you are considering adopting someone, contact us for more information.