Where Are Second-Parent and Joint Adoption for Same-Sex Couples Available?
Joint Adoption
Ten states - California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Vermont - and the District of Columbia permit same-sex couples to jointly petition to adopt statewide. Same-sex couples have successfully petitioned to adopt in some jurisdictions in Nevada and New Hampshire.
Second-Parent Adoption
Eight states - California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont - and the District of Columbia allow same-sex couples to use the state’s adoption laws for second-parent adoptions.Same-sex parents also have been granted second-parent adoptions in certain jurisdictions in 16 other states:
- Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
In certain other states, there is anecdotal evidence of these adoptions being granted, although there is no case law. And four states – Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin -- have court rulings that prohibit same-sex couples from using the state adoption laws for second-parent adoptions.
