Single adults in Canada are welcome to adopt children

By LegalMatters Staff • While some adoption agencies may favour traditional two-parent families, single adults have as much right to adopt a child as a married couple in Canada.

“Every province has regulations and procedures that govern the adoption process and safeguard the child’s best interests,” says Edmonton family lawyer Sean Schaefer. “In Alberta, anyone over 18 who can demonstrate financial and domestic stability can take part in the adoption process.”

He says prospective parents must prove they can provide for the child financially and they will also be asked about their lifestyle, dating interests and other personal questions during the screening process.

“If you have decided to adopt without a partner or spouse, all the responsibilities of the process fall to you,” says Schaefer. “And once your child is home, you must be willing to dramatically adjust your lifestyle to balance work, school, daycare and all the other things that await.”

He notes that Alberta has three types of adoption: private, international and government.

“Private adoption allows you to adopt a child of a spouse or relative, or adopt a child through a private direct placement or licensed adoption agency,” Schaefer explains. “The parents involved privately make a legal agreement with the birth parents voluntarily giving that child(ren) to another person or couple.”