Adoption Laws in Nevada

Nevada Adoption Law, Explained by a Past President of the AAAA

Adoption law is governed by state statute, and Nevada’s statutes change. NRS Chapter 127 was substantially restructured in 2025, with many provisions reorganized into new sub-chapters, which means summaries published even a year ago may no longer reflect current law. Eric Stovall has practiced adoption law in Nevada since 1987 and has assisted with over 2,000 surrogacies and adoptions. As a Past President of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), he brings both national leadership and current, statute-level knowledge to every matter. We offer free consultations and serve clients throughout Nevada from our primary office in Reno.

If you’re considering adopting a child in Nevada, contact us at (775) 227-7221 to schedule your free consultation.

Adoption Consent Laws in Nevada

Both biological parents must consent to an adoption in Nevada. Once signed, a consent or relinquishment is irrevocable. A minor parent may execute a relinquishment and can’t revoke it upon coming of age. If a court has already terminated a parent’s rights, that parent’s consent isn’t required. If the child to be adopted is over 14, the child must also consent. Consent rules break down into three areas:

• When to execute consent. A birth mother may not execute consent until 72 hours after the child’s birth, and once given, that consent can’t be revoked. A biological father who isn’t married to the birth mother may consent before the child’s birth. That consent remains valid unless specific conditions occur, such as the parents marrying before birth, the birth mother failing to execute consent within six months, or the adoption petition not being filed within two years.
• How to execute consent. Consent must be executed with two disinterested witnesses and formally acknowledged as required by Nevada law. A copy must be delivered to the welfare department within 48 hours. The birth mother must complete consent before placing the child in an adoptive home.
• When consent isn’t required. Consent may not be required in cases involving abandonment, failure to establish paternity, or extended absence from the child’s life. Courts may also proceed without consent following a prior termination of parental rights.

Who May Adopt a Child in Nevada

In Nevada, any adult at least 10 years older than the child may petition to adopt; courts may waive the age differential for stepparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and first cousins. If married, both spouses must consent. At least one prospective adoptive parent must have been a Nevada resident for six months before the petition is granted, and the child must have lived in the prospective adoptive home for at least 30 days before the petition may be filed. Nevada doesn’t require adoptive parents to be married; single adults and unmarried partners are legally eligible to petition the court. Multiple siblings may be adopted under the same petition, and adult adoption is permitted when both parties expressly consent.

Nevada doesn’t have a Putative Father Registry. If there is a known man who considers himself the child’s father, he must receive notice of termination proceedings and must appear to assert his parental rights.

Permitted Adoption Expenses in Nevada

Nevada law allows reimbursement of reasonable medical and living expenses paid by or on behalf of the birth parents, provided the payment doesn’t affect child placement. Permitted expenses may include rent, utilities, food, transportation, maternity clothing, medical care, legal fees, and counseling. All must be directly related to the pregnancy or adoption process and must be transparently documented and court-approved. Direct payments intended to induce a birth mother’s consent are prohibited, and a birth mother who doesn’t intend to keep the child can’t accept payments for expenses. We can help you understand what adoption costs you can expect. Other financial rules include:

• Agency and department fees. There is no placement fee for a child with special needs. Agencies must charge only reasonable fees for services rendered. Nevada may also provide financial assistance to adoptive parents of children with special needs, including monthly subsidies and help with upfront processing costs.
• Court accounting of expenses. Adoptive parents must file an affidavit with the court accounting for all fees, donations, and expenses paid in connection with the adoption proceedings.

LGBTQ+ Adoption in Nevada

Nevada’s adoption statutes are among the most inclusive in the country. The law doesn’t require adoptive parents to be married, and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples are legally eligible to adopt. Courts evaluate prospective parents based on the best interests of the child, not marital status or sexual orientation.

For same-sex couples who welcome a child through surrogacy or assisted reproduction, parentage orders and adoption proceedings can work together to secure both parents’ legal standing. We represent single parents and LGBTQ+ families in adoption proceedings throughout Nevada, including securing parentage orders across the more than 250 surrogacy and adoption matters we handle each year.

Adoption Attorneys in or around Reno & Las Vegas

Nevada adoption law covers far more than what any single page can address, and federal law adds another layer that can affect your case. Eric A. Stovall has practiced law since 1987 and has assisted with over 2,000 surrogacies and adoptions, including domestic private infant, foster care, interstate, international, and kinship adoptions. As a Past President of the AAAA (the recognized professional authority for adoption and assisted reproduction attorneys), he brings both the credentials and the hands-on experience your case deserves.

We offer free consultations and serve clients throughout Nevada. If you’re considering adoption or surrogacy, please contact our Reno adoption attorneys at Eric A. Stovall, Ltd. by calling (775) 227-7221. We’re glad to help you understand your options.