Adopting a Child in Oklahoma

A married couple adopting jointly (both at least 21), an unmarried person at least 21, a married person at least 21 who is legally separated, or one spouse alone when the other spouse is the child's parent or relative may adopt. The case is filed in the district court of the county where the petitioners or child live, in Tulsa or Oklahoma County, or where parental rights were terminated. Written consent or a permanent relinquishment is generally required from both parents (or one parent if the other is dead, has had rights terminated, or need not consent). Consent is not required from a parent who, for 12 consecutive months out of the last 14 before filing, willfully failed to contribute to the child's support as ordered or according to ability, among other exceptions. A favorable preplacement home study, completed within 12 months before placement, is generally required, and it includes interviews, a home visit and fingerprint-based background checks.

A married person may adopt alone if the other spouse is the child's parent. The other parent's consent is still needed unless an exception applies, such as willful failure to support for 12 of the last 14 months. No preplacement home study is needed if the child has lived with the birth parent's spouse for at least one year when the petition is filed, but a home study is then done during the case. The court may waive the home study entirely if it finds the waiver is in the child's best interest, the parent and stepparent have been married at least one year with the child living in their home, and the stepparent has no felony conviction, no child abuse or domestic violence record, and no protective order against them. A stepparent adoption is not treated as a direct-placement adoption.