Check suitability as adoptive parents for a domestic adoption

Prerequisites

If you would like to adopt a child within Germany, you must have unlimited legal capacity and be at least 25 years old according to German law. If you are married, at least one of the spouses must be this age and the younger spouse must be at least 21 years old. There is no maximum age for adoptive parents. However, according to the Federal Working Group of State Youth Welfare Offices, the age difference from the adopted child should correspond to a natural distance.

Normally, a married couple - regardless of gender - can only adopt a child together. But single people can also adopt a child.

The adoption agency checks your suitability as an applicant.

Documents required

Please note

No

Deadlines

The adoption agency has no deadline within which to decide on suitability. Even after a positive aptitude test, there is no legal right to place a child.

Procedure

You apply for an adoption at the adoption agency responsible for you. This can either be your youth welfare office or a recognized non-governmental adoption agency.
This is followed by the aptitude test. The placement agency's specialists will speak to you to find out more about you.

This process can take several months. Adoption is only possible after a positive aptitude test by the youth welfare office.

However, this is no guarantee that an adoption placement will actually take place.

Fees

No

Legal basis

§ 7 Adoption Placement Act (AdVermiG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/advermig_1976/__7.html

The aim of an adoption is to find the most suitable parents for a child who, for various reasons, cannot grow up with his or her biological parents.

That is why adoption agencies carefully check the suitability of potential adoptive parents. This includes, for example, the reasons for the adoption, the stability of the partnership or health aspects.