North Dakota § 14-15-03 Who may adopt

North Dakota Statutes

§ 14-15-03 — Who may adopt

North Dakota § 14-15-03

Title 14Domestic Relations and Persons

Ch. 14-15Revised Uniform Adoption Act

This text of North Dakota § 14-15-03 (Who may adopt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

N.D. Cent. Code § 14-15-03 (2026).

Text

The following individuals may adopt:

1.A husband and wife together although one or both are minors.

2.An unmarried adult.

3.The unmarried father or mother of the individual to be adopted.

4.A married individual without the other spouse joining as a petitioner, if the individual to be adopted is not the adopting person's spouse, and if:

a.The petitioner is a stepparent of the individual to be adopted and the biological or legal parent of the individual to be adopted consents;

b.The petitioner and the other spouse are legally separated; or

c.The failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption is excused by the court by reason of prolonged unexplained absence, unavailability, incapacity, or circumstances constituting an unreasonable withholding of cons

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The following individuals may adopt:
1. A husband and wife together although one or both are minors.
2. An unmarried adult.
3. The unmarried father or mother of the individual to be adopted.
4. A married individual without the other spouse joining as a petitioner, if the individual to
be adopted is not the adopting person's spouse, and if:
a. The petitioner is a stepparent of the individual to be adopted and the biological or
legal parent of the individual to be adopted consents;
b. The petitioner and the other spouse are legally separated; or
c. The failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption
is excused by the court by reason of prolonged unexplained absence,
unavailability, incapacity, or circumstances constituting an unreasonable
withholding of consent.