Adopting a Child in Nevada

One or more adults may petition the district court of any county to adopt a child; the adoptive parent must be at least 10 years older than the child (unless the adopter is a relative within the third degree and the court approves), and a child over 14 must agree. A married person not lawfully separated needs the spouse's agreement. A specific consent to adoption or relinquishment is required from each living parent and any court-appointed guardian, unless rights were terminated or another exception applies; it must be signed no sooner than 72 hours after birth, acknowledged before a judge, clerk, notary or justice of the peace, and witnessed by two disinterested witnesses (one a social worker or caseworker). Unless the court waives it, a child-placing agency conducts a post-placement investigation and recommends for or against the adoption.

Nevada's adoption statutes do not set out a separate stepparent procedure in the sections reviewed. A parent who wants to keep parental rights joins the petition as a joint petitioner and agrees to the adoption, and the other living parent must give a specific consent unless his or her rights were terminated or another exception applies. The court may waive the post-placement investigation and report.