Adopting a Child in Pennsylvania

Any individual may adopt. Adoption cases are handled by the county court of common pleas. Consent is required from the adoptee if over 12, the adopting parent's spouse (unless joining the petition), the parents of a minor, and in some cases a guardian or custodian; a consent signed before or within 72 hours after birth is invalid. A parent's consent is not needed if parental rights were terminated or the court finds grounds for involuntary termination, such as conduct for at least six months showing a settled purpose of giving up parental claim or a failure to perform parental duties. When an intermediary (agency or other person) places a child, a favorable home study and preplacement report must be completed first, and a person taking custody of a child to adopt must generally file a report of intention to adopt, after which the court orders an investigation.

When a parent consents to adoption of the child by their spouse, the parent keeps their own parent-child relationship whether or not they join the petition. The other parent must consent unless their rights are terminated; a parent may petition to terminate the other parent's rights on grounds such as at least six months of conduct showing a settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim or refusal or failure to perform parental duties. No report of intention to adopt is required when the child is the adopting person's stepchild, and the court-ordered investigation is tied to that report.