Adoption & Foster Care Timeline.

Indiana enacted a religious exemption for adoption and foster care providers.

Iowa enacted a religious exemption for adoption and foster care providers.

The current version of the Act on Domestic Adoption took effect on 12 May 2026, with suitability requirements that do not mention sex or orientation.

Article 151 was amended by Law No. ZRU-1156 of 1 July 2026; the joint and step-parent adoption rules remain limited to spouses.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

American Samoa still does not license same-sex marriage, leaving a same-sex couple without the spouse routes.

Arkansas enacted a religious exemption for child-placing agencies.

The 2025 Code limits joint adoption to two spouses married under article 220-1.

Act 123/2024 let a partner adopt the other partner's child from 1 January 2025.

Law 1687 of 2024 amended the Adoption Act and the Children Act.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

The Marriage (Amendment) Act 2025 left marriage unavailable to same-sex couples, so they cannot apply as spouses.

Marriage opened to same-sex couples with the Civil Code family rules applied to them.

Constitutional Court held the exclusion of same-sex partnerships unconstitutional; no registration law yet.

Montana enacted a religious exemption for adoption and foster care providers.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

Constitutional act 255/2025 limited adoption to spouses and exceptionally single people, and recognised only biological sex.

The new Civil Code Book 1 came into force, limiting joint adoption to married couples.

The Marriage Equality Act took effect, giving spouses of any sex the same adoption rights as other spouses.

A 2025 federal decree-law opened fostering to residents: spouses applying together or single women over 30.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

The Hoge Raad opened marriage, and with it joint adoption by spouses, to same-sex couples in Aruba.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

The Hoge Raad upheld the opening of marriage in Curaçao, giving same-sex spouses the spousal adoption route.

Marriage equality from 1 January 2024 opened joint adoption to same-sex spouses.

The Constitution limits marriage, and so joint adoption, to a man and a woman.

The law, issued on 17 September 2024 and in force 60 days after promulgation, bars adoption and foster care by non-heterosexual and trans people.

Marriage and the spousal adoption rules opened to same-sex couples.

Idaho enacted a religious exemption for child-placing agencies.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

The High Court held the hardship inquiry under section 9 of the Native Lands Code is a prerequisite to registering an adoption.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Registered partnership from 1 July 2024 without adoption rights.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

The High Court applied section 36 of the Family Law Code to the variation or discharge of adoption orders.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

The Law, published on 30 July 2024 and in force on publication, replaced Law No. 32/2016 and limits joint adoption to spouses.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.

Extended the adoption and guardianship bars to citizens of states that allow medical gender change.