Can Single People Adopt in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, you do not need to be married to adopt a child. Being single is not a barrier under state law, and single people in Snohomish County build permanent, loving families through adoption every year.

For related help, see family-law help, Washington parenting-plan guide, and child-support guide.

The Short Answer, Grounded in the Statute

Washington sets out who is eligible to adopt in plain terms, and marital status is simply not part of the test. Any person who is legally competent and at least eighteen years of age may be an adoptive parent. That is the standard set by RCW 26.33.140, which governs who may adopt and who may be adopted. The statute speaks in terms of individual adults, not couples, so a single person meets the basic eligibility requirement the same way a married person does.

The same section is equally broad about who can be adopted. Under RCW 26.33.140, any person may be adopted regardless of age or residence. That means a single adult can adopt a young child, a teenager, or even an adult, provided the rest of the legal process is followed.

Eligibility Is Only the Starting Point

Meeting the age and competency requirement gets you in the door, but it is not the whole picture. Every adoption in Washington is subject to court oversight, and the guiding question throughout the process is what serves the best interests of the child. A single applicant is evaluated on the strength of their home, their stability, and their ability to care for a child, not on whether there is a second parent in the household.

A central part of that evaluation is the preplacement report. Before a placement, someone requesting to adopt has a written report prepared that sets out relevant information about their fitness as an adoptive parent. That report is based on a study of the applicant's home environment, family life, health, facilities, and resources, and it includes a recommendation about fitness. These requirements come from RCW 26.33.190. Nothing in that statute treats a single applicant differently from a married one. A single parent with a stable home, a support network, and the means to care for a child is well positioned to receive a favorable report.

What the Preplacement Report Actually Looks At

The study behind the report is thorough, and knowing what it covers helps applicants prepare. Under RCW 26.33.190, the report examines the home environment, family life, health, and resources of the person requesting it, and it confirms that certain adoption topics were discussed with the prospective parent. Those topics include understanding adoption as a lifelong commitment, the child's possible feelings about separation from birth parents, and the relevance of the child's racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage.

The report also includes a background check. Under the same statute, all preplacement reports must include a review of any conviction records, pending charges, or disciplinary decisions, along with a fingerprint-based check of national criminal databases and a review of child abuse and neglect history for any adult living in the home. This applies to every applicant, single or married. A past issue in a background check does not automatically end an adoption, but it is one of the factors the court weighs.

Types of Adoption Open to Single People

Single people pursue adoption through several paths in Washington. Some adopt through the state's foster care system, taking in a child whose parents' rights have already been addressed and providing that child with permanency. Others work with licensed private adoption agencies. Some pursue an independent adoption, and others adopt a relative, such as a niece, nephew, or grandchild, when circumstances call for it. In each of these paths, being single is not a disqualifier. The court applies the same eligibility standard and the same best-interests review across the board.

Relative and kinship adoptions are especially common. When a family member steps in to raise a child whose parents cannot, a single aunt, uncle, or grandparent can move from informal caregiver to legal parent through adoption, giving the child the security of a permanent legal relationship.

Practical Realities to Expect

While the law does not stand in the way of single-parent adoption, applicants should go in with realistic expectations. The process takes time, involves paperwork, and includes the home study and court hearings. Single applicants often find it helps to document their support system, whether that is family, close friends, or community resources, because a strong support network speaks directly to stability and the ability to care for a child.

It is also worth understanding that different agencies and different birth parents may have their own preferences. A private agency cannot override the statutory eligibility standard, but in certain private placements a birth parent may express preferences about the adoptive family. That is a feature of the particular placement, not a legal bar on single people adopting. The law itself, through RCW 26.33.140, remains open to any qualified single adult.

The Snohomish County Picture

Adoptions for families in Snohomish County are handled through the Snohomish County Superior Court, and the same statewide rules apply here as everywhere else in Washington. Local applicants benefit from working with someone who knows how the local court handles these matters, from the filing of the petition through the preplacement report and the final hearing. Family law and adoption are closely connected, and questions about parentage, guardianship, or existing custody arrangements often come up alongside an adoption, especially in relative adoptions.

Moving Forward With Confidence

If you are single and considering adoption, the law is on your side. The statute welcomes any legally competent adult who is at least eighteen, and the rest of the process is about showing that you can provide a safe, stable, and loving home. The Law Office of Chad Foster helps single individuals across Snohomish County understand their options and move through the adoption process with clarity. If you are ready to explore what single-parent adoption could look like for you, reach out to start the conversation.