<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 25-6-2 - Adoption of minor child permitted--Minimum difference in ages--Best interests of child. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2050043Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2050043SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2050043CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2050043Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2050043DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2050043Normal-000001 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2050043000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2050043SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2050043SCL-000003 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2050043Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=25-6-2"><span class="s2050043SENU">25-6-2</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2050043SENU">. </span><span class="s2050043CL">Adoption of minor child permitted--Minimum difference in ages--Best interests of child.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2050043Normal-000000"><span class="s2050043DefaultParagraphFont">Any minor child may be adopted by any adult person. However, the person adopting the child shall be at least ten years older than the child adopted unless the court finds the adoption of the child by the adult person in the best interest of the child.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2050043Normal-000001"><span class="s2050043DefaultParagraphFont">In an adoption proceeding or in any proceeding that challenges an order of adoption or order terminating parental rights, the court shall give due consideration to the interests of the parties to the proceedings, but shall give paramount consideration to the best interests of the child.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2050043Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2050043000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2050043Normal"><span class="s2050043SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2050043SCL-000003"> SDC 1939, § 14.0401; SL 1994, ch 199; SL 2018, ch 158, § 1, eff. Feb. 27, 2018.</span></p></div></body></html>