Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts14. Adoption by one person
(1) Subject to this section, the Court shall not make an order for the adoption of a child in favour of one person (not being a person to whom section 15 applies) unless -
(a) the child is under the guardianship of the Minister; and
(b) it is satisfied that, in the opinion of the Minister, exceptional circumstances exist that make it desirable to do so.
(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) does not include a person who is married or has entered into a traditional Aboriginal marriage and who is not living separately and apart from his or her spouse.