Adoption Attorney, Lisa L. Collins, Esq., has provided some Adoption Basics for individuals starting their adoption journey:
Who can adopt?
Adoption is an option for many people. Tennessee law allows most people to adopt assuming they meet some minimum requirements. The adoptive parent can be of any race or religious background and can be single of either sex, married, or divorced. They must be at least eighteen years of age or older. There is no minimum income requirement except that the adoptive parent must be able to meet the financial needs of a child. There can even be other children in the home, depending on the type of adoption or agency you choose. The unifying factor in adopting is that the adoptive parent, except in related person cases, must be approved to adopt through a procedure called the home study.
Review Tennessee Department of Children Services: Adoption for additional information on specifics in Tennessee.