§ 26-10F-5 — Who May Adopt

(a) Any adult individual may petition the court to adopt an adult as provided in this chapter.
(b) Any married couple, both of whom are adults, may jointly petition the court to adopt an adult as provided in this chapter. An adult who is married may not petition to adopt another adult unless the petition for adoption is filed jointly by his or her spouse, unless that spouse is the biological or legal parent of the adult sought to be adopted.
(c) Unless the adoptee is biologically related to the petitioner or petitioners, any petitioner seeking to adopt another adult shall be at least 10 years older than the adoptee, unless waived by the court for good cause shown.
(d) An adult may only be adopted as provided in this chapter and for the establishment of a legal parent-child relationship.
(e) The State Department of Human Resources shall provide by rule the process through which an individual seeking to participate in foster care or adoption may apply for an exemption from any vaccination requirement for religious or other appropriate reason for himself, herself, or any other individual in his or her household.

Legislative History

(Act 2023-92, §2; Act 2025-407, §1.)