A Complete Guide to Adoption in Nevada

If you’re interested in adopting a child in “The Silver State,” you’re in the right place. This is an extensive guide to Nevada-based adoptions. Nevada has some unique laws. For example, it allows residents of other states to file petitions of adoption, an option that isn’t available in over 20 states. Nevada is also one of the few places where more than two parents can adopt a child, which can be useful when unmarried partners, polyamorous trios, or stepparents are involved. ()

Read on to learn the details about adoption policies in Nevada. We aim to make this page a comprehensive resource covering everything you need to know, from Nevada’s adoption laws to how to find a local adoption agency in Nevada.

Nevada Adoption Laws at a Glance

Who Can Adopt?	Adults who are over age 21 and at least 10 years older than the adoptive child can adopt in Nevada.
Residency Requirements	Both home owners and renters can adopt children in Nevada. Most adoptive parents live in Nevada, but out-of-state adoptions are also allowed.
Marital Status	Married or single adults can adopt in Nevada. If married, both partners must jointly file to adopt. Both heterosexual and same-sex married couples can adopt.
Birth Mother Consent	In Nevada, birth mothers cannot sign Consent to Adopt paperwork until at least 72 hours have passed after the baby’s birth.
Revocation Period	Nevada does not have a revocation period, which means that once birth parents give up their parental rights by signing Consent to Adopt paperwork or have parental rights terminated by a court, they usually cannot change their minds or regain rights.
Birth Father Rights	Like the birth mother, the birth father must also either sign Consent to Adopt paperwork or have parental rights terminated by a court before an adoption can move forward.

Adoption laws are complex. This is a summary for informational purposes only. Please consult with a qualified Nevada adoption attorney for legal advice.

Paths to Adopting a Child in Nevada

There are three main ways to adopt in Nevada: from birth parents giving their infant up for adoption, from foster care, and through a family or marriage connection.

Private Infant Adoption

With private infant adoption, an adoptive parent or set of parents adopt a child, often a newborn baby, from the infant’s birth parents. When the infant is born in the U.S., this type of adoption is called a domestic infant adoption. Generally, the process of adopting an infant is facilitated by a private adoption agency or an agency and an attorney, and is often completed fairly quickly after childbirth.

Adopting from Foster Care

Adoption from foster care involves adopting a child whose biological parents’ rights have been terminated by the state, often due to abuse, neglect, or another situation that makes the home unavailable or unsafe for the child. Some adoptive parents adopt children from foster care after having fostered them for an extended time, while others plan to adopt from the start and foster only for a required six-month supervision period before the adoption is finalized.

Prospective adoptive parents can share their adoption preferences when applying to adopt from foster care, including those related to age, ethnicity, sex, and number of children. However, it’s rare for a non-special needs infant to come up for adoption through the foster system. Prospective adoptive parents can apply and be put on a waiting list for healthy infants in Washoe County only. Otherwise, most infant adoptions in the state are through private agencies.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) notes that there’s an ongoing need for families who can adopt special needs children from foster care. In these cases, adoptive parents will not be placed on a waiting list and may move more quickly through the process.

Stepparent or Relative Adoption

Stepparent and relative adoptions are those that occur when a person adopts their spouse’s biological child or the child of another family member. These types of adoptions often occur after divorce, the death of a parent, or a situation that keeps a parent from being able to take care of their child for the long-term.

A Deeper Look at Nevada Adoption Laws

Gaining a deeper understanding of Nevada adoption laws can clarify if you’re eligible to adopt and help you know how the process works.

Who Is Eligible to Adopt in Nevada?

Nevada adoption laws were designed to protect the best interest of the adoptive children. Adults over 21 are eligible to adopt, and they must be at least 10 years older than children they’re adopting. Sexual orientation, marital status, and whether a person rents or owns a home has no bearing on the ability to adopt.

In many cases, adoptive parents have lived in Nevada for at least six months. However, out-of-state parents can adopt Nevada children when they’ve been approved by the birth parents and the state of Nevada. Interstate adoptions must align with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) regulations. Generally, interstate adoptions out of Nevada are private infant adoptions and not adoptions from foster care.

Birth Parent Consent in Nevada

In Nevada, birth mothers must wait 72 hours after childbirth before they can sign Consent to Adopt paperwork, which gives up their parental rights and makes adoption possible. In some other states, birth parents have a revocation period during which they can change their mind. Nevada doesn’t have a revocation period, so once the paperwork has been signed, the adoption process can generally proceed immediately. 

If the birth mother and father are not married, the birth father isn’t held to the same waiting period as the birth mother, and he can sign Consent to Adopt paperwork before childbirth. If the birth father won’t sign Consent to Adopt paperwork, a court must terminate his parental rights before adoption can occur. If the father is unknown, a court must terminate rights for the father by using the name “John Doe.”

Some states maintain a Putative Father Registry to protect the right of unmarried birth fathers in cases of adoption. Nevada doesn’t maintain one of these registries. An unmarried birth father can establish paternity by signing paperwork or through a court order.

The Home Study Process in Nevada

All states require a home study to become licensed to adopt, and Nevada is no exception. In Nevada, DCFS stresses that the home study process isn’t intended to be overly difficult or provoke anxiety among prospective adoptive parents. Instead, it helps DCFS or a private adoption agency figure out which family is likely best for a specific child or group of children.

The home study process generally involves a background check, fingerprinting, references from those close to you, a financial overview, interviews with a social worker, a medical examination, and a home safety inspection. The home study also allows prospective adoptive parents to ask further questions and share their adoption preferences.

Find Nevada Adoption Agencies and Professionals

Read on to find licensed, reputable adoption agencies and professionals in Nevada.

Statewide and National Agencies Serving Nevada

Licensed statewide and national adoption agencies serving Nevada include:

• Adoption Choices of Nevada, www.adoptionchoicesofnevada.org, 1-702-474-4673
• A Child’s Dream of Nevada, www.achildsdream.org/nevada, 1-702-399-3274
• Gladney Center for Adoption, gladneyadoption.com, 1-866-491-0923
• Lifetime Adoption, lifetimeadoption.com, 1-800-923-6784
• Loving Hearts Adoption Services, www.lovingheartsadoption.org, 1-702-385-3351
• Open Arms Adoption Agency, www.openarmslv.org, 1-702-732-0307
• Premier Adoption, www.premieradoption.org, 1-800-876-0187

Las Vegas Area Agencies

Las Vegas-area adoption agencies include:

• Adoption Choices of Nevada — Las Vegas Office, www.adoptionnevada.com/las-vegas-adoption, 1-702-474-4673
• A Child’s Dream of Nevada, www.achildsdream.org/nevada, 1-702-399-3274
• Loving Hearts Adoption Services, www.lovingheartsadoption.org, 1-702-385-3351
• Open Arms Adoption Agency, www.openarmslv.org, 1-702-732-0307
• Premier Adoption, www.premieradoption.org, 1-800-876-0187

Reno Area Agencies

Reno-area adoption agencies include:

• Adoption Choices of Nevada — Reno Office, www.adoptionnevada.com/reno-adoption, 1-775-825-4673

Nevada Adoption Attorneys

The American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) maintains a directory of adoption attorneys licensed in Nevada at adoptionarg.org/adoption-attorney-nevada. 

Adopting from Foster Care in Nevada

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) oversees the Nevada foster care system and adoptions from foster care. In addition to the Nevada DCFS website, ruralnvfostercare.com provides information on the foster care system in rural Nevada. 

According to the State of Nevada, there are over 4,400 children in foster care on any given day, and many of them need adoptive homes. The Nevada DCFS shares a selection of photos, videos, and descriptions of some foster children available for adoption on their website. 

The first step toward adopting from foster care in Nevada is reaching out to the Nevada DCFS adoption recruiter at adoptionrecruiter@dcfs.nv.gov. The next step is attending an orientation to learn about the adoption from foster care process. Next, prospective adoptive parents must become licensed foster parents before they can adopt. Pre-service training, a home study, and background checks are all part of the licensing process.

Once a person or couple is licensed to foster, they can begin the process of finding a child to adopt from foster care. DCFS workers will help with the matching process to ensure a good fit between child and family. Once matched, a child is placed in a home, and can then be adopted after an initial six-month foster period.

Resources for Expectant Parents in Nevada

If you’re an expectant parent in Nevada considering adoption, this section is for you. As a birth parent, you will have many legal rights in Nevada. If you are a birth mother and decide adoption is the right choice for you, you have the right to sign Consent to Adopt paperwork 72 hours after giving birth. The birth father can also sign this paperwork or, if the birth father is unknown, a court can terminate his parental rights as “John Doe.” Once those steps are complete, the adoption process can begin.

As a birth parent, you choose which agency you would like to help you place your infant into an adoptive home. You can allow the agency to select the family for you, if that’s your preference, or you can be involved in the selection process by reading about or meeting prospective adoptive families. The adoption agency may also be able to help you with medical or financial assistance as you move through the final stages of pregnancy and childbirth.

Many adoption agencies provide free, unbiased counseling to pregnant women trying to decide if adoption is the right choice for them. For example, Adoption Choices of Nevada offers 24/7 assistance, and you may contact them by calling, texting, or emailing as outlined on their website.