Adoption is a life-changing event for both you and the child you welcome into your family. However, despite all the excitement and good intentions, there can be several hurdles to jump to get to the day you bring your new family member home.

At DLegal Law Office, we regularly guide families through the adoption journey, from the first question to the final court order. Let us guide you through the process.

Adoption Pathways in Alberta

There are several ways for prospective adoptive parents to adopt a child in Alberta, and each comes with their own processes, requirements, and costs. In Alberta, the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act authorizes these adoptions and details the process.

Public (Government) Adoption Process

Public adoption takes place through Alberta Children’s Services. This program focuses on placing children who are already in the permanent care of the government, often due to family breakdown, neglect, or other challenges. Children in government care waiting for adoption can range from infants to teenagers, though most are school-aged and may be part of sibling groups or have unique medical or emotional needs.

Adults aged 18 or older who live in Alberta and can offer a safe, stable, and nurturing home may apply for public adoption. You do not have to be married or own a home. Alberta Children’s Services welcomes single individuals, couples, and families from all backgrounds. What matters most is your ability to meet a child’s physical and emotional needs.

You begin the process by contacting Alberta Children’s Services or attending an information session to learn about the program. You’ll then submit an application and complete background checks, including criminal, vulnerable sector, and Intervention Record checks.

Then you’ll complete Alberta’s PRIDE pre-service training and a Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) home study, which are both designed to prepare you for adoption and ensure your home environment is suitable.

Once approved, your profile is matched with a child whose needs fit your family’s strengths.

After the child is placed, there’s a period of supervision before you apply to the Court of King’s Bench for a final adoption order. The supervision period allows a social worker to monitor the child’s well-being and ensure the adoption placement is in the child’s best interests before it becomes permanent. Public adoptions usually require a minimum of six months of supervision after placement before an application for an adoption order with the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta can be filed.

Public adoption is free to applicants. The province covers the cost of training, home studies, and professional services. You may only pay small administrative fees for items such as medical forms or police checks, usually under $300 in total.

Private (Licensed Agency) Adoption Process

Private adoption is arranged through a licensed Alberta adoption agency. In most cases, birth parents voluntarily choose adoption for their newborn and select the adoptive family themselves. The licensed adoption agency will support both birth and adoptive parents through every stage, from matching to post-placement follow-up.

Like public adoptions, any adult 18 or older who is an Alberta resident and passes the required background and safety checks may apply. Applicants can be single, married, or common-law couples as long as they have financial and domestic stability, emotional readiness, and the ability to provide a nurturing home.

Just like in public adoption, applications will have to complete mandatory PRIDE education and a professional home study.

Private adoptions usually cost between $10,000 and $15,000, which includes agency fees for the home study, training, counselling, and placement work, as well as legal fees to prepare the paperwork and finalize the court application process.

However, to make private adoption more affordable, Alberta will sometimes offer a provincial subsidy for eligible families who complete an agency adoption to adopt a child.

Some families in Alberta choose a licensed adoption agency instead of public adoption because it offers greater flexibility and personal involvement. Private adoption often provides the opportunity to adopt a newborn, which appeals to families who want to experience parenting from birth. In contrast, Alberta’s public adoption program typically has a smaller percentage of newborns than older children or sibling groups who are already in government care.

Sometimes, the biological parents and adopting parents meet during the adoption process or choose each other through the agency. Many private adoptions in Alberta also include some level of openness, where both families agree to maintain ongoing contact, such as sharing updates, photos, or occasional visits.

The process is usually faster than the public adoption process, though it is more expensive. For private adoptions, often only three to six months of supervision are required, depending on agency policy, before applying for an adoption order.

Browse the list of licensed adoption agencies on the Government of Alberta’s website here: https://www.alberta.ca/private-adoption

Direct Placement Adoption Process

A private direct placement adoption occurs when birth parents personally choose to place their child with someone they already know, such as a friend, godparent, or extended birth family member. This pathway is sometimes chosen because there is already a trusted relationship between the parties.

Anyone 18 or older who lives in Alberta and meets the legal and safety requirements may be eligible. The birth parents must voluntarily choose you as the adoptive parent, and both sides must follow Alberta’s formal legal process for notice and consent for a direct placement adoption to take place.

To start the process, Alberta law requires that the Director of Children’s Services be notified within 30 days of the child being placed.

Birth parents must provide informed written consent and are entitled to independent legal advice and counselling. They also have 10 days after signing to revoke their consent if they change their mind.

Depending on the circumstances, a home assessment report may be required to confirm the child’s well-being and the suitability of the placement. However, the supervision period is generally just three to six months if it applies.

After the supervision period, your lawyer files the adoption application and court documents in the Court of King’s Bench for final approval.

Although direct placements are often deeply personal, they are still legal adoptions with all the rights and responsibilities of parenthood once finalized. Working with an adoption lawyer to ensure everything is completed correctly and the adoption order is legally secure is paramount.

Step-Parent Adoption Process

Step-parent adoptions are a type of direct placement adoption which occurs when a step-parent wants to become the legal parent of a child they already help raise. In most cases, the child is already living in the home, which makes this process more straightforward than other types of adoption and may not require a supervision period.

Step-parent adoption is about formalizing a relationship that already exists. Once completed, it gives the child the same legal rights and status as a biological child, including inheritance, decision-making, and parental recognition on official records.

Step-parent adoptions are also among the least expensive and quickest forms of adoption in Alberta.

A home study or PRIDE training is usually not required unless the court specifically requests it. Instead, the process focuses on obtaining proper consents, completing background checks, and demonstrating that the adoption is in the child’s best interests.

In most cases, the consent of both legal parents (or legal guardians) is required before a step-parent adoption can proceed. This means that the parent who is not living with the child, often the other biological parent, must be notified of the application and given an opportunity to consent.

However, the court can dispense with consent in specific circumstances. This may happen if the other child’s parent has abandoned the child, cannot be located after reasonable efforts, or has not meaningfully participated in the child’s life for a significant period. The court will consider evidence of contact, support, and involvement before making this decision, always focusing on the child’s best interests.

If the child is 12 years of age or older, they must also give written consent to the adoption. The judge will confirm that the child understands what adoption means and that their agreement on the consent forms is voluntary.

Home Study Report and Assessment

A home study report and assessment, along with PRIDE pre-service training, are key parts of the adoption process in Alberta. Together, they help ensure that adopting parents are well-prepared, capable, and supported as they move toward welcoming a child into their family.

The home study is completed by a social worker who works closely with prospective parents over several weeks or months. Through a series of interviews, home visits, and document reviews, the assessor learns about the family’s background, motivations, relationships, and parenting style. They will also look at the household’s overall environment, financial stability, and health to confirm that it meets Alberta’s standards for child safety and well-being.

As part of the process, applicants provide medical reports, references, and detailed financial information. They also complete background checks, including criminal record checks and vulnerable sector checks, to ensure there are no safety concerns.

The home study follows the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) format, which focuses not only on practical readiness but also on emotional preparedness, including how a family might respond to a child’s trauma, grief, or adjustment needs.

The final home study report outlines the adoptive family’s strengths, support systems, and any areas where further preparation might help. It serves as a professional recommendation to Alberta Children’s Services, licensed adoption agencies, and the Court of King’s Bench regarding the family’s approval to adopt.

Alongside the home study, families must complete PRIDE pre-service training (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education). This training is designed to give prospective adoptive parents the tools and insight needed to support a child through all stages of growth and healing.

The program covers topics such as attachment and trust, the impact of loss and separation, openness in adoption, cultural identity, and teamwork with agencies and biological families. It’s a chance for families to learn from adoption professionals and from other adoptive parents.

In Alberta, completing the PRIDE program and the full home study process typically takes four to eight months, depending on scheduling, agency capacity, and how quickly applicants gather the required documents. Once these steps are finished, families move into the approval and matching stage, where they wait to be paired with a child. Although it can feel lengthy, this preparation stage is one of the most valuable parts of the journey, helping families understand adoption deeply and laying a strong foundation for it.

Obtaining an Adoption Order

The final step in the Alberta adoption process is obtaining an adoption order from the court. Once all requirements have been met, the adoptive parents, or their family lawyer, submit an application to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta.

The court carefully reviews the adoption file to ensure that every legal and procedural requirement has been satisfied and that the adoption is in the child’s best interests. In some cases, the judge may hold a brief hearing to ask questions or confirm consent before granting the order.

When the adoption order is issued, it gives the adoptive parents full legal rights and responsibilities for the child, just as if the child were born to them. Once granted, the process is officially complete, and Alberta Vital Statistics issues a new birth certificate reflecting the child’s new legal parentage.

What Is the Easiest Way to Adopt a Child?

The easiest way to adopt a child in Alberta depends largely on your situation, but for most families, step-parent adoption is the most straightforward process. This type of adoption is ideal when you’re already caring for your spouse’s or partner’s child and want to make the relationship legally permanent. Because the child is already living with you, the process usually doesn’t involve home studies or government matching, and it can often be completed within a few months once all consents are in place.

Adoption in Alberta is a structured, compassionate process designed to protect children and provide them with stable, loving homes. Whether you’re exploring public adoption, a private agency, direct placement, or a step-parent adoption, each path requires patience, openness, and guidance.

At DLegal Law Office, our family law team understands that adoption is more than a legal matter; it’s a life-changing journey. We’re here to help you navigate every form, consent, and court step with confidence and care. Get in touch with our adoption lawyers today!

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be considered legal or other professional advice. To get detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please discuss your situation with a lawyer or other professional. Refer to our Legal Notice  for more details.