(a) Any adult person or husband and wife jointly who are adults may petition the court to adopt a minor.
(1) No rule or regulation of the Department of Human Resources shall prevent an adoption by a person solely because the person is employed outside the home, provided however, the Department of Human Resources may exercise sound discretion in requiring the person to remain in the home with a minor for a reasonable period of time when a particular minor requires the presence of that person to ensure his or her adjustment. Provided, however, the reasonable period of time shall not exceed 60 consecutive calendar days.
(2) No rule or regulation of the Department of Human Resources or any agency shall prevent an adoption by a single person solely because such person is single or shall prevent an adoption solely because such person is of a certain age.
(3) Provided however, in cases, where one who purports to be the biological father marries the biological mother, on petition of the parties, the court shall order paternity tests to determine the true biological father. If the court determines by substantial evidence that the biological father is the man married to the biological mother, then the biological father shall be allowed to adopt the child without the consent of the man who was married to the biological mother at the time of the conception or birth of the child, or both, when the court finds the adoption to be in the best interest of the child.
(b) Any adult may petition the court to adopt another adult as provided in this chapter.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 26 - Infants and Incompetents.
Chapter 10A - Alabama Adoption Code.
Section 26-10A-1 - Short Title.
Section 26-10A-2 - Definitions.
Section 26-10A-3 - Jurisdiction.
Section 26-10A-5 - Who May Adopt.
Section 26-10A-6 - Who May Be Adopted.
Section 26-10A-7 - Persons Whose Consents or Relinquishment Are Required.
Section 26-10A-8 - Consent or Relinquishment by a Minor Parent.
Section 26-10A-9 - Implied Consent or Relinquishment.
Section 26-10A-10 - Persons Whose Consents or Relinquishments Are Not Required.
Section 26-10A-11 - Consent or Relinquishment.
Section 26-10A-12 - Persons Who May Take Consent or Relinquishments; Forms.
Section 26-10A-13 - Time of Consent or Relinquishment; Filing With Court.
Section 26-10A-14 - Withdrawal of Consent or Relinquishment.
Section 26-10A-15 - Surrender of Custody of Minor Under Age of Majority.
Section 26-10A-17 - Notice of Petition.
Section 26-10A-18 - Custody Pending Final Decree.
Section 26-10A-19 - Investigation.
Section 26-10A-20 - Removal of Adoptee From County.
Section 26-10A-21 - Related Proceedings.
Section 26-10A-23 - Fees and Charges.
Section 26-10A-24 - Contested Hearing.
Section 26-10A-25 - Final Decree; Dispositional Hearing.
Section 26-10A-27 - Stepparent Adoptions.
Section 26-10A-28 - Adoption by Other Relatives.
Section 26-10A-29 - Name and Status of Adoptee.
Section 26-10A-30 - Grandparent Visitation.
Section 26-10A-31 - Confidentiality of Records, Hearing; Parties.
Section 26-10A-32 - Birth Certificates.
Section 26-10A-33 - Crime to Place Children for Adoption.
Section 26-10A-35 - Bringing Child Into State for Adoption Purposes.
Section 26-10A-37 - Rules of Procedure and Rules of Evidence.