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California Adoption Laws
More Information on Adoption Laws
| Code Section | Family §§8500-9340; No |
| Who May Be Adopted | Any unmarried minor child at least 10 years younger than prospective adoptive parent or parents; any married minor or adult |
| Age that Child's Consent Needed | 12 years and older |
| Who May Adopt | Any adult; must be 10 years older than child unless stepparent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or first cousin and court approves |
| Home Residency Required Prior to Finalization of Adoption? | No |
| State Agency/Court | State Department of Social Services/Superior |
| Statute of Limitations to Challenge | On any grounds except fraud: 1 year; fraud: 3 years |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
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