Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2312 (2026)
Who may adopt.
✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 2312. Who may adopt.
Any individual may become an adopting parent.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: In Re: Adopt. of M.R.D. & T.M.D. Appeal of: M.C., 145 A.3d 1117 (Pa. 2016).
In Re: Adopt. of M.R.D. & T.M.D. Appeal of: M.C., 145 A.3d 1117 (Pa. 2016). “[J-59-2016] - 5 “[a]ny individual may become an adopting parent,” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312, relevant to the instant matter, Section 2711 of the Act requires the parent seeking termination to consent to the adoption and to relinquish his or her parental rights.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992). “" 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312. A party seeking to adopt a child must first file a Report of Intention to Adopt.”
In Re Adoption of R.B.F., 803 A.2d 1195 (Pa. 2002). “See also 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312 (stating that “any individual”, can adopt).”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 656 A.2d 1346 (Pa. 1995). “We granted allocatur to review the standing of foster parents to initiate adoption proceedings without the consent of the agency which has legal custody and has placed the children in the foster home.”
In Re Adoption of C.C.G., 762 A.2d 724 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). “In such a situation, the consent requirements of section 2711 are not implicated, nor is the "spousal exception" of section 2903.”
In Re Adoption of R.B.F., 762 A.2d 739 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). “See 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312. See also 23 Pa.C.S. § 2701 (Contents of petition for adoption).”
In Re: Adopt. of M.R.D. & T.M.D. Appeal of: M.C., 128 A.3d 1249 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312. The Majority'interprets this provision as all-encompassing, so as to eradicate all other statutory requirements, in particular, the more specific statutory requirements for adoption under the Act, including the spousal requirement under Section 2903.”
In the Int. of: K.N.L. Apl of: L.B. a/k/a T.B. (Pa. 2022). “” 23 Pa.C.S. §2312; see Hess, 608 A.2d at 13 ; Adoption of J.”
Interest Of: I.S.R., a minor, Appeal of: S.D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “While the Adoption Act provides that “[a]ny individual may become an adopting parent,” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312, relevant to the instant matter, Section 2711 of the Act requires the parent seeking termination to consent to the adoption and to relinquish his or her parental rights.”
In Re: C.F.G., A Minor, Appeal of: H.M.W. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “Albeit that the Adoption Act2 states that “[a]ny individual may become an adopting parent[,]” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312, and that we find no case law where an aunt or uncle was held to be an improper prospective adoptive parent, there are cases where a grandparent was not permitted to…”
In the Int. of: Z.E., Appeal of: M.E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “See 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312 (section of Adoption Act stating that “[a]ny individual may become an adopting parent.”
In Re: Adpt. of V.S.T., Appeal of: J.S.T. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024). “While the Adoption Act provides that “[a]ny individual may become an adopting parent,” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2312, relevant to the instant matter, Section 2711 of the Act requires the parent seeking termination to consent to the adoption and to relinquish his or her parental rights.”
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