Vermont Adoption Laws

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last updated January 11, 2023

Adopting a child can be a complex process. The adoption process is governed by state laws. Read on to learn more about Vermont adoption law, including who may be adopted, who may adopt them, and other important statutory requirements for adopting a child in the state of Vermont.

Vermont Adoption Laws

Some of the main highlights of Vermont's adoption laws are listed in the chart below. Explore FindLaw's Adoption section for additional articles and resources.

Code Section	Tit.15A §1-101, et seq., of the Vermont Statutes
Who May Be Adopted	Any person; if an adult adoption, they must have their spouse's consent unless they are legally separated or the court finds that the spouse is not capable of giving consent or is withholding consent contrary to the best interests of the adoptee and prospective adoptive parent
Age that Child's Consent Needed	14 years and older
Who May Adopt	Any person. If the petitioner is married, the spouse must consent. Parents and partners may adopt if in the best interest of the child. If a family unit consists of a parent and the parent's partner, and adoption is in the best interest of the child, the partner of a parent may adopt a child of the parent.
Home Residency Required Prior to Finalization of Adoption?	180 days
State Agency/Court	Department for Children and Families/Probate Division of Superior Court
Statute of Limitations to Challenge	6 months
Same-Sex Adoption	Yes

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Research the Law

Vermont Code
Official State Codes -- Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.