Adopting a Child in Minnesota

Any person who has lived in Minnesota for one year or more may petition the district court to adopt; the court may reduce this to 30 days in the child's best interest, or waive it for relatives and others with significant ties to the child. Generally the child must have been placed by a licensed child-placing agency, with exceptions such as relative adoptions and children over 14. An approved adoption study (including an in-home visit and a background study of household members over 13) must be completed before placement. Both parents (and any guardian) must consent in writing before two witnesses, no sooner than 72 hours after birth, unless an exception applies; a child over 14 must also consent. A parent may withdraw consent for any reason within 10 working days.

For a stepparent adoption, the full adoption study is not required; a background study must be done on the stepparent and certain children in the home, initiated by the county social services agency unless a child-placing agency is involved. The noncustodial parent's written consent is required unless an exception applies (for example, the parent abandoned the child after notice, is not entitled to notice, or had rights terminated). That parent can withdraw consent within 10 working days by notifying the district court where the stepparent lives. A child over 14 must consent.