Statute of the particular state of the USA determines who may adopt and become adoptive parents in the concerned jurisdiction. Most of the states or jurisdictions have their adoption laws on the lines of the Uniform Adoption Act. State laws often disqualify individuals with physical and mental disabilities, unmarried or single persons and disreputable people with criminal background, to take children for adoption. Many states like Okalahoma, Nebraska and Florida debar gays and lesbians from adopting. In this connection, sexual orientation might be a consideration in other jurisdictions, though not necessarily the decisive factor
The spouses may jointly adopt a child. Unless barred by the particular state law, one of the spouses may also adopt alone without being joined by the other. Unmarried persons can adopt unless forbidden by law.
Sometimes in the best interests of the child if the natural parents die or in case the custodial parent becomes unfit, Court may be constrained to allow adoption by the grandparents of the child.
Although adoptive parent of the same religion is preferred, inter racial adoption is not ruled out, where such arrangement would be beneficial to the adopted child.
Courts decide on the suitability or acceptability of a candidate for adoption on the reports of the investigative agency.
(More:http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1990s/uaa94.htm
http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/table_adoption)
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