This article explains how to meet the criteria for adopting a child in Skyrim. At that point, you can adopt a child from Riften's Honorhall Orphanage or welcome one of the homeless children you will find in the streets of the cities into your home.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Meet the Prerequisites
Step 1. Purchase and install the Hearthfire DLC
This expansion introduces the possibility of adopting children and building houses. It costs € 4.99.
- On PC, you can purchase the code to download Hearthfire on Amazon or the Steam store.
- Xbox and PlayStation users can purchase Hearthfire from their respective console stores.
- If you're playing the Skyrim Special Edition, the Hearthfire DLC is already included.
Step 2. Buy a house
You can only buy almost any house after completing a side quest for the Jarl of the city you are interested in; only the Whiterun property becomes available as you progress through the main story. You can buy a house in the following cities:
- Whiterun: You can purchase the Breezehome for 5,000 gold. This is the second building on the right after entering the city.
- Windhelm: You can buy the Hjerim house, which is opposite the "Cruel Sea Clan House" for 12,000 gold.
- Riften: You can purchase the Honeyside house for 8,000 gold. You will find it at the end of the path that proceeds to the right after the entrance to Riften.
- Solitude: You can purchase the Proudspire Estate for 25,000 gold. It is located next to the College of Bards, in the central right part of the city.
- Markarth: You can buy the Vlinder Hall property for 8,000 gold. You will find it at the top of the stairs on the right side of the city entrance.
- You can also build two houses in Falkreath, The Pale Hold and Hjaalmarch Hold but due to a bug, Skyrim does not consider them suitable for children in some cases.
Step 3. Furnish your home completely
Usually to do this you have to talk to the assistant of the jarl in the city of your choice (for example Proventus Avenicci in Whiterun), then select the option "I would like to furnish my house" and buy all the items, especially the children's room.
If you've just installed the Hearthfire DLC, you may have to wait for a courier to bring you a message about the kid's room upgrade
Step 4. Kill Grelod the Gentile
Contrary to her name, Grelod is the owner of Riften's Honorhall Orphanage and abuses children. To delete it:
- Use fast travel to get to Riften. If you haven't visited the city yet, you can purchase a carriage ride outside Whiterun or one of the other major cities.
- Walk straight across the bridge, then turn left in front of the "Bee and Bard" pub.
- Walk until you see some stairs, then turn right. You should see the Honorhall orphanage.
- Enter the orphanage, then wait for the children to leave.
- Kill Grelod in his sleep. This is the best way to avoid getting caught.
Step 5. Go outside and wait 48 hours in the game world
This way Constance Michel will be promoted to head of the orphanage and you should receive a letter confirming this.
You can also fast-travel back to your home and wait (or continue to perform missions) until you get the message
Step 6. Return to the orphanage and look for Constance
She wears a yellow dress and you will often see her walking with the children; in some cases he will sleep in the room to the right of the main hall of the building.
Step 7. Talk to Constance Michel about adoption
At the end of the conversation, you can select a child to adopt. You must choose the following answers to his questions:
- When you first talk to her, choose "Can I adopt one of your children?", Then "What should I do?".
- Select your name when asked.
- When asked what you do in life, respond with "I am Dragon Blood".
- When he asks where the child will live, answer "In my house in [City]".
Part 2 of 2: Adopting a Child
Step 1. Find a child to adopt and talk to him
All the children of the orphanage are available.
Step 2. Select the item "I can adopt you if you wish"
This is the second option in the dialog box; if you prefer, you can first press "Tell me about yourself" to know the story of the child.
Step 3. Select "Yes, I'm sure
.. son / daughter.”The child will express his emotion and at that point you can return to the house you chose earlier when you spoke to Constance Michel. The child will be there waiting for you.
You can adopt up to two children
Step 4. Interact with your children by visiting your home
They will always be there waiting for you when you return.
You don't have to feed them or worry that they might be killed, because your babies can't die
Step 5. Consider adopting a homeless child
You can find some children living on the streets of Skyrim that you can adopt:
- Alesan - Dawnstar
- Blaise - Solitude
- Lucia - Whiterun
- Sofie - Windhelm
Step 6. Consider adopting a child from dead NPCs
Children who lose their parents because they were killed by the player or other computer-controlled characters will appear after some time in the Riften Orphanage. Here is a table of children you can adopt:
| First name | Position | Characters who must die |
|---|---|---|
| Aeta | Skaal village | Oslaf, Finna |
| Braith | Whiterun | Amren, Saffir |
| Britte | Rorikstead | Lemkil |
| Clinton Lylvieve | Dragon Bridge | Azzada Lylvieve, Michel Lylvieve, Julienne Lylvieve |
| Dorthe | Riverwood | Alvor, Sigrid |
| Eirid | The Frozen Heart | Haran, Dagur |
| Erith | Left Hand Mine | Daighre |
| Frodnar | Riverwood | Hod, Gerdur |
| Gralnach | Heartwood Mill | Grosta |
| Hrefna | Darkwater Ford | Tarmir, Sondas Drenim |
| Knud | Katla's Farm | Katla, Snilling |
| Minette Vinius | The Winking Skeever | Sorex Vinius, Corpulus Vinius |
| Sissel | Rorikstead | Lemkil |
| Skuli | Old Hroldan | Eydis, Leontius Salvius |
| Various | Solitude | Greta, Addvar |
Advice
It is not possible to adopt Aventus Aretino even if you meet all the requirements for adopting a child
Warnings
- If you kill the parents of a child in front of him, you will not be able to adopt him later.
- Once you have adopted a child, the only way to move them to a new home is to get married and ask your wife to move you to a different home with you.
