A child may be adopted if he or she meets any of the following criteria:
- A child surrendered for adoption to an agency which has consented to adoption.
- A child to whose adoption a person authorized by law has consented or where no consent is required.
- A child in the custody of someone intending to adopt him or her through placement by his or her parents.

 An adult may be adopted if he or she has lived in the home of the person(s) intending to adopt him or her for more than two consecutive years. This can happen at any time before the beginning of the adoption proceeding. The time requirement is NOT required if the adult to be adopted is a blood relative of the adoptive parent(s).