Too Old To Adopt?

Adoption STAR CEO/Founder Michele Fried sheds some light on the commonly asked question, “Am I too old to adopt?”

Actress Fran Drescher wonders if she is too old to adopt.
Age has always been a hot topic in the adoption field. What do you think?

Within international adoption, the age is set by the child’s country of origin. Most countries have age requirements. For example:

• In Hungary adoptive parents should be no more than 45 years older than the adopted child. The formula looks like:
• Up to 45 years can adopt children aged 0+
• 46 years and more can adopt children aged 1+
• Exception: If one person in the couple is under 45 and the other is over, they can still adopt a child 0+
• As long as one parent is under 45 years, the other person’s age does not matter
• If both people are 60+, then they may adopt a child 15+

In Bulgaria adoptive parents must be at least 18 years of age and there is no upper age limit at this time. However, the Ministry of Justice prefers parents be at least 18 years of age. Interestingly enough, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services requires prospective parents to be at least 24, and for there to be only 50 years difference between the parent and child.

Within domestic adoption, most U.S. states do not have an age limit. However, typically adoptive parents should be at least 18 years of age. A few states require adoptive parents to be 21 and a few require adoptive parents to be at least 25 years of age. The National Adoption Center reports that, “Prospective parents are usually in the 25 to 50 year old range.”