Check suitability as adoptive parents for a domestic adoption

You apply to an adoption agency for an adoption. This can either be your youth welfare office or a recognized non-governmental adoption agency.
This is followed by a suitability test. The specialists at the placement agency will talk to you to find out more about you.

This process can take several months. Adoption is only possible after a positive suitability test by the youth welfare office.

However, this is no guarantee that an adoption placement will actually take place.

If you wish to adopt a child in Germany, you must have unlimited legal capacity under German law and be at least 25 years old. If you are married, at least one of the spouses must be this age and the younger spouse must be at least 21 years old. There is no maximum age for adoptive parents. However, according to the Federal Working Group of the State Youth Welfare Offices, the age difference to the adopted child should correspond to a natural distance.

Normally, a married couple - regardless of gender - can only adopt a child together. However, single people can also adopt a child.

The adoption agency will check your suitability as an applicant.

Documents must be submitted for the suitability assessment, which are then checked by the adoption agency. This will be discussed in advance during a consultation.

The adoption agency does not have a deadline within which a decision on suitability must be made. Even after a positive suitability test, there is no legal entitlement to the placement of a child.

• § 7 AdVermiG