Stepparent & Adult Adoption – Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve helped over 25,000 families complete their stepparent and adult adoptions. Below you’ll find
answers to the questions we hear most – from cost and consent, to timelines, name changes, and how our
$325 flat-fee program works.
This page is general information only and isn’t a substitute for legal advice. Adoption laws differ from state to
state, so you should always confirm the specific requirements where you live.
Jump to a topic:
Getting started •
Costs & pricing •
Process & timeline •
Other parent & consent •
Court requirements •
Adult adoptions •
About our program •
Other questions
Getting Started & Eligibility
What is a stepparent adoption?
A stepparent adoption is a court process that allows a spouse or partner of a child’s legal parent to become the child’s legal parent. Once the adoption is final, the stepparent has the same rights and responsibilities as a biological or birth parent – for things like custody, medical decisions, inheritance, and day-to-day care.
Who can usually do a stepparent adoption?
While each state is different, most courts require that:
- The adopting stepparent is married to (or in a legally recognized relationship with) the child’s legal parent.
- The child lives primarily in the home with the legal parent and stepparent.
- The identity of the other legal parent is known or can be addressed in the paperwork (by consent or termination).
- The adoption is clearly in the child’s best interests.
Many states also have minimum time-in-home rules (for example, the child has lived with the stepparent for six months). Your local court’s website or self-help center can confirm your state’s specific requirements.
Can we adopt if the child’s other parent has been absent?
Probably – this is one of the most common reasons families pursue stepparent adoption. Many states allow a court to proceed without the other parent’s consent if they have abandoned the child (often defined as failing to support or have meaningful contact for a certain period of time). The exact rules vary by state, but most of the adoptions we help with are completed when the other parent has not been involved for a long period.
Costs & Pricing
How much does a stepparent adoption typically cost?
Families who hire an attorney are often quoted between $3,500 and $6,000 or more for a straightforward stepparent adoption, plus court costs. With our program, most families pay:
- $325 – flat fee for our adoption packet (one child)
- $95 – for each additional child adopted at the same time
- Court fees & costs – usually around $300–$500 (filing fees, service of the other parent, background checks, etc., which you pay directly to your local court or agencies)
Exact court costs vary by state and county, but most of our customers complete their adoption for $325 to us
plus a few hundred dollars in local court costs. For a deeper breakdown, see our How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Stepchild? page.
What does your $325 fee include?
Our fee covers the entire document-preparation side of your adoption:
- State-specific, court-ready adoption forms prepared for your situation and county
- Petitions, consents, and (where appropriate) termination-of-parental-rights documents
- Clear, step-by-step written instructions on how to sign and file everything
- Support from our team if the court requests changes or clarifications
- Our court-acceptance guarantee – if anything needs to be corrected, we fix it at no additional charge
Are there any hidden fees?
No. Our fee is a flat $325 for one child and $95 per additional child. You will still pay normal court-related costs (filing fees, service, background checks, and any required home study) directly to your court or local providers, just as you would if you hired an attorney.
Process & Timeline
What are the basic steps in a stepparent adoption?
Every state is a little different, but most stepparent adoptions follow the same overall path:
- Prepare your documents. We collect your information through a secure online questionnaire and prepare court-ready forms specific to your state and county.
- File with the court. You sign and file your adoption packet at the appropriate court. Our instructions explain exactly where and how to file.
- Handle consent or termination of rights. The other parent may sign a consent, or the court may consider termination if the legal grounds (such as abandonment) are met under your state’s law.
- Complete any required checks or reports. Many states require background checks and, in some cases, a simplified home study or investigation.
- Attend your hearing. The judge reviews your documents, asks a few questions, and, if everything is in order, signs the final decree of adoption.
- Request a new birth certificate. After the adoption, you can request a new birth certificate listing the adopting stepparent, and often update the child’s name at the same time.
For a step-by-step walk-through of what happens from start to finish, visit our Adoption Process page.
How long does the process usually take?
Timelines vary by state and by how busy your local court is, but for most of our customers:
- Stepparent adoptions for minor children typically finalize in about three months after filing.
- Adult adoptions are often faster and may be completed in as little as two to six weeks.
Some counties are quicker; others, especially large metropolitan areas, can take longer. We include guidance for your state and county when we send your documents.
The Other Parent, Consent & Termination of Rights
Do we always need the other parent’s consent?
Not always. Many of the adoptions we help with are completed without the other parent’s consent. In many states, a court may terminate parental rights if the other parent has abandoned the child or failed to support or contact the child for a period of time defined by state law.
However, this is very state-specific. Some states are more flexible than others. Our documents are designed to address common abandonment and consent scenarios, but if you know the other parent is likely to object, you may want to talk with a local attorney about your chances of success before filing.
What if we don’t know where the other parent lives?
Courts usually require you to make a reasonable effort to locate and notify the other parent. If that’s not
possible, many states allow service by publication (placing a notice in an approved newspaper or publication) or other alternative methods. Our instructions explain the general process, but your local court clerk can tell you what methods are accepted where you live.
Does the other parent still have to pay child support after the adoption?
In most cases, once a stepparent adoption is finalized and the other parent’s rights are terminated, their
future child-support obligations end. Any past-due support (arrears) usually remains owed, but rules can vary by state and by the terms of your existing court orders. If you have significant support questions, a local attorney can give advice based on your specific orders.
Court Requirements: Home Study, Background Checks & Hearings
Will we need a home study?
Many states waive a full home study for stepparent adoptions, especially when the child has been living with the stepparent for a long time. Instead, the court may require a background check, a brief investigation, or an interview. In some states, a simplified home study is still required, but judges often have discretion to waive it.
When we prepare your documents, we include any available waivers or requests allowed in your state, and the judge decides whether to grant them.
Will we need background checks?
Most courts require at least a criminal background check for the adopting stepparent. Some also require checks through child-abuse registries or other databases. The cost is usually modest and similar whether you use our service or hire an attorney. Our instructions explain when and how to complete these checks as part of your case.
What should we expect at the final hearing?
For most families, the final adoption hearing is a short, positive court appearance. The judge may ask you basic questions about how long the child has lived with you, why you’re adopting, and whether the adoption is voluntary.
As long as your paperwork is in order and legal requirements are met, the judge will usually sign the final decree of adoption at this hearing.
Adult Adoptions
Can we adopt an adult child or stepchild?
Yes. Many states allow adult adoptions, and this is a common way to formalize a relationship with a grown son or daughter, especially when a stepparent has been “mom” or “dad” for years. Our program prepares documents for adult adoptions as well as stepparent adoptions of minor children.
Is the adult adoption process different from adopting a minor?
Adult adoptions are often simpler and faster because custody and child support are no longer issues. Many states do not require home studies for adult adoptions, and consent from the other biological parent is typically not required. You still file an adoption petition and attend a brief hearing, but the paperwork is usually lighter and the timeline shorter – often 2–6 weeks from filing to finalization.
What are the benefits of an adult adoption?
Adult adoptions can provide emotional closure, a shared family name, and clear inheritance rights. They can also simplify medical decision-making and next-of-kin issues if something happens in the future. For more details, visit our Adult Adoption page.
About Our Program & Support
Are you a law firm?
No. We are a document-preparation service. Our legal department has been preparing adoption documents since 1999.
We provide professionally prepared, state-specific forms and detailed instructions so you can complete the adoption yourself without paying attorney fees. We do not give legal advice or represent you in court.
How long have you been helping families?
We’ve been helping families complete their adoptions for more than 25 years and have assisted over 25,000 families with stepparent and adult adoptions. Over that time, we’ve refined our program to make the paperwork and court process as straightforward as possible for everyday families.
What kind of support do you provide?
Our support team stays with you throughout the entire process. We:
- Answer questions about your documents and instructions
- Help you understand the sequence of steps to complete with the court
- Make any changes the court requests to your forms at no additional charge
- Provide guidance and reassurance so you’re never left wondering what comes next
We can’t speak for the judge or clerk, but we can make sure your paperwork is as clear and complete as possible for your situation.
What is your court-acceptance guarantee?
Our documents are designed to be accepted by courts in your state. If the court requires changes or additions to any of the forms we prepared based on correct information you provided, we will make those corrections and updates
at no additional charge. If the court ultimately refuses to accept your documents because of an issue with our preparation (and not a legal issue specific to your facts or state law), we will refund our fee.
Other Common Questions
Can we change the child’s last name as part of the adoption?
In most states, yes. You can usually change the child’s last name – and sometimes their full name – as part of the adoption process. Our forms include name-change language where allowed, and we explain how to request a new birth certificate reflecting the new name and the adopting stepparent.
Will adoption affect inheritance and benefits?
Generally, yes. After adoption, the child typically gains inheritance rights through the adopting stepparent and may become eligible for certain benefits (such as Social Security survivor benefits) through that parent. At the same time, legal ties to the other biological parent are usually severed. Because estate planning and government benefits can be complex, you may wish to speak with a local attorney or financial professional about your specific situation.
What if we have questions that aren’t answered here?
If you have questions that aren’t covered on this page, you can:
- Call our office during business hours – we’re happy to walk you through the process and costs for your state.
- Send us an email with your questions, and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.
- Review our in-depth pages, including
How Adoption Works,
Adoption Facts, and
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Stepchild?.
We know adoption can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to make the process as simple, understandable, and affordable as possible so you can focus on what matters most – your family.
