Many South Carolina families desire to expand their family through adoption. In our State, adoption options include adopting an available child through South Carolina or another State’s foster care system, private domestic adoptions within and without the State, and international adoption. Below are some useful links to learn more about these options for building your family.

South Carolina Department of Social Services’ Adoption
View available children in S.C. - South Carolina Heart Gallery
Information on being a foster care or adoptive family in SC - Heartfelt Calling
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
South Carolina Association of Licensed Adoption Agencies
Creating a Family
Intercountry Adoption
Available foster children throughout the U.S. - AdoptUSKids

To learn more about South Carolina’s laws regarding adoption, you can review the South Carolina Adoption Act found at Chapter 9, Article 1 of Title 63, the Children’s Code. The Act outlines the procedures for adoptions in South Carolina and includes information regarding who may adopt, who must consent or relinquish rights, and the process for eligibility, among many other issues.

This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The number is 799-7100 in Richland or Lexington Counties, and 1-800-868-2284 from other parts of the state.