How old do I legally have to be to adopt a child in the state of North Carolina?

.... actually the laws do vary by state.

In NC you don't have to own your own home, or be married, or have a great job, or be a perfect person, or any of the other things people seem to believe are mandatory to be an adoptive parent.

You DO have to be 21 to be a foster parent (but not necessarily to adopt) and most private adoption agencies will require that you be at least 21 or even 25.

However, there's no law in NC that mandates you be over 21 to adopt a child.

If you want to know about YOUR specific eligibility to adopt, you can find out by contacting NC Kids through the department of human services.

I've placed link and # in my sources.

Best of Luck~

What you should do is find a nice man you are in love with get married and have your own.

They don't let 18 year olds adopt 10 year olds out of foster care for a reason. You can always volunteer as a big sister or walk dogs at the animal shelter if you are lonely.

At 18 you can be a foster parent if you can prove that you are responsible and can take care of yourself financially, have no criminal background. I'm sure that if they allow you to foster, they will allow you to adopt also. You have more chances to adopt if you have a husband because you are so young. Foster care adoption will be your best option unless you are adopting someone that you know. Private adoptions are very expensive and few 18 year old have that type of money.

In almost all states you must be 21 years old and you have to complete so many hours of classes given by the dhs and have home inspections complete.

Actually even to foster you need to be 21...and they rarely approve anyone that young. Private agencies are even harder & usually require you to be 25.

None. Just because you may have a job now doesn't mean your independent.

Think everything over very carefully first.