Single Parent Adoption: A Complete How‑To Guide

taryn902
Jul 31
6 min read

Are you wondering “Can I adopt as a single parent?” — the answer is a resounding yes! Single-parent adoption is a valid, powerful path to parenthood. At Choice Adoptions, we believe that love, not marital status, defines family. Whether you're exploring adopting a baby or an older child, our 2025 Guide walks you through everything, from funding and home studies to support systems and connecting you with other single parents who’ve adopted or are looking to adopt.

Can I Adopt as a Single Parent?

Absolutely. Today, thousands of single people in the U.S. are helping infants and older children find loving, permanent homes. Once rare and even barred in some states for single people, adoption by single parents is fully legal and supported across the U.S.

It takes someone with a big heart and commitment. Courts, agencies, and birth parents are increasingly open to single-parent adoption, especially when hopeful parents exhibit emotional stability, readiness, and a reliable support network.

Choosing an Adoption Path: Domestic, Foster Care, and International

There’s no one-size-fits-all path. Each route offers different opportunities, timelines, and considerations.

Domestic Infant Adoption (U.S.) - With Choice Adoptions, you can adopt children through private agency placement. As a single parent, you'll craft a loving profile and often develop a relationship with birth parents. Stats show that while initial barriers existed, more birth mothers are choosing single parents, especially those raised by single moms.

Foster Care Adoption - Over 100,000 children in foster care are awaiting permanency. Single parents can adopt infants, toddlers, teens, sibling groups, or kids with special needs. Foster adoption is often less expensive (with subsidies available) and can be faster. In Oregon, for example, DHS offers adoption assistance including subsidies, healthcare, and post-placement support.

International Adoption - Although many countries still restrict single-parent adoption, some do allow it. International adoption generally involves more paperwork, travel, and time, but may be a valuable option if aligned with your family goals.

Almost 30% of adoptions are by single parents.

Financial Planning and Requirements for Single Adopters

Adopting as a single parent requires thoughtful financial planning. Costs vary depending on the path:

Adoption nonprofit: $30,000-$60,000+
Private agency: $30,000–60,000+
Foster care: $0–$5,000 after subsidies
International: $20,000–50,000+
Attorneys: $8,000-$40,000+, but costs are less easy to predict

Funding options include:

Federal and state tax credits
Grants through foundations and nonprofits
Employer adoption benefits and FMLA leave
Loans, home equity, early retirement tap-ins
Sliding-scale fees through Choice  Adoptions

Make sure you budget for life after adoption, too: childcare, medical, schooling, therapy. Being a single parent will not be cheap.

How to Navigate the Home Study as a Single Applicant

The home study is a thorough look at emotional readiness and living conditions. For single applicants, social workers assess:

A safe, nurturing home
Steady income and thoughtful finances
Emotional preparedness for solo parenting
Mentorship & childcare support
Clear background checks & references

Agencies like Choice  Adoptions don’t discriminate by status, but be honest about your support plan. Show you're ready, not overwhelmed.

Building Your Essential Support System

When parenting solo, it helps to have backup. A strong support system can include:

Family/friends: Childcare, emotional encouragement, backup babysitters
Coworkers/employers: Flexible scheduling, adoption leave, healthcare
Peer support groups: Online forums, local meetups, in-person workshops
Therapists & counselors: To navigate the emotional complexities
Community faith centers: Practical help, playgroups

Agencies like Choice emphasize that solo parents aren’t truly alone when they build strong networks.

Answering Common Questions from Expectant Parents

Domestic infant adoption involves meeting birth moms. They often ask:

Why do you want to adopt as a single parent?
How will you manage parenting solo?
Will your child have a support network and what will that look like?

Answer with honesty: talk about your commitment, financial stability, backup plan, and the strength of your support circle. Some birth moms may not wish to place their child in a single parent home, while others may specifically seek it out.

The Unique Challenges of Adopting as a Single Parent

Longer matching times: Sometimes single profiles can take longer to be chosen.
Bias/stigma: Some may unconsciously compare to two-parent families.
Solo fatigue: Emotional burnout and logistical juggling.
Financial terrain: Managing all costs on one income.

With support from our social workers, these challenges can be met well. Many single adoptive parents find creative solutions, strong networks, and profound joy in parenthood.

The Incredible Joys of Single Parent Adoption

Why do other single people choose this path?

Empowerment and pride in making a parenting choice
Deep, intentional bonds with their children
A vibrant, diverse "village" formed circumstance, not DNA
Family isn’t defined by structure and roles but by love

Resources and Communities for Single Adoptive Parents

Support is essential. These are some excellent places to start:

Choice Adoptions: Start your adoption journey and connect with other waiting families, including single people looking to adopt, along the way.
Single Mothers by Choice: 40+ year-old non-profit community with articles and support
LifeLong Adoptions: Guidance for single people looking to adopt.
Cup of Jo: 10 Single Moms by Choice: Explore what it's like to be a single parent through this helpful blog post.
AdoptHelp: Learn about single parent adoption
National Council For Adoption: Webinars & trauma-informed courses
Center for Adoption Support & Education: Peer groups, therapy, webinars
State-specific resources like Oregon DHS adoption assistance

Single Parent Adoption Myth Busting

Myth: Birth moms won’t choose single parents.

Fact: Many birth parents are drawn to dedicated, emotionally available, well-prepared individuals, regardless of marital status or gender.

Myth: You won’t be able to manage parenting alone.

Fact: With the right support systems, smart planning, and community, single parents thrive. Single parenthood is incredibly common, especially single motherhood. In fact, 23% of children under 18 live in single-parent households.

Myth: Agencies don’t accept single applicants.

Fact: Many agencies, including Choice Adoptions, welcome single applicants and have successfully placed children with loving, capable single parents.

Myth: A child needs both a mother and a father to thrive.

Fact: Children need stability, love, and security, not a specific parental gender combination. Countless children are thriving in single-parent homes across the country.

Myth: Single parents can’t afford to adopt.

Fact: Financial assistance like grants, tax credits, and flexible agency programs help make adoption accessible to single-income households. It is much harder under a single income, but is still possible.

Myth: Birth parents always choose traditional families.

Fact: Birth parents make highly individual choices. Many are moved by the intentionality, resilience, and openness of single parents.

Myth: Single adoptive parents will have no time for themselves.

Fact: While solo parenting takes planning, single parents often build strong support networks and set healthy boundaries to balance parenting and self-care.

Myth: Courts and judges prefer married couples.

Fact: Courts look at the best interest of the child, not marital status. A safe, loving, and well-prepared home, regardless of structure, is what matters most.

Myth: Single men can't adopt.

Fact: Single men can and do adopt. While they are less common statistically, agencies and courts support them when they demonstrate readiness and emotional capacity.

Myth: Kids adopted by single parents will feel like something is missing.

Fact: What children need most is unconditional love and consistent care. Single parents often raise deeply bonded, secure children.

Interested in adopting?

Why Choose Choice Adoptions?

💙 We celebrate every family path, including single-parent adoption.

💙 We connect you with other waiting single moms: real stories, lived experiences, and shared support.

💙 We offer flexible, sliding-scale packages and will help you navigate funding and tax credits.

💙 We guide you through the home study and matching process, always uplifting you along the way.

💙 We offer post-placement support, referral to peer groups, therapy, and resources at every stage.

Next Steps

Fill out the adoptive family inquiry form here
Have an informational call with one of our adoption specialists
Apply online with Choice Adoptions here
Start your home study and craft your family profile
Finish your home study and begin the matching process

Yes, you can adopt as a single parent. And you can be chosen. With your dedication, our guidance, and a strong support system, you can create the loving, stable family you dream of.

Let’s talk about your vision and where to begin. Visit choiceadoptions.org to learn more. For questions, call us at 503-232-1211 or fill out this form today to connect with caring adoption experts and start your journey.