Are there any special requirements for adoption in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas has a few requirements beyond the basics, and most of them are simple to meet in a stepparent adoption. You file in the Circuit Court in your county, and Arkansas has no minimum residency period (A.C.A. § 9-9-205(a)).

Who may adopt: Under Arkansas law, a husband and wife may adopt together, an unmarried adult (18 or older) may adopt, and so may the unmarried mother or father of the person being adopted. A married person may also adopt alone if their spouse is the child's parent and consents. For a stepparent, that usually means the child's parent signs consent to your adoption. If your situation is different, ask the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney.

Consent rules:

• Your spouse's consent to the adoption is part of the filing.
• Arkansas allows a parent's consent to be given at any time after the child's birth.
• A child who is 12 or older must also consent (A.C.A. § 9-9-206).
• If the other parent won't or can't consent, your petition must show grounds for waiving that consent. Arkansas sets a 12-month period in connection with abandonment (A.C.A. § 9-9-207). Whether it applies to your family depends on your facts, so an attorney or the court clerk should look at that specific issue.

Notice to the other parent: Arkansas allows personal service by a sheriff or process server. If the other parent's location is unknown, service by publication is allowed after a diligent search. Arkansas does not treat termination of the other parent's rights as a separate case.

Home study: It is waived for stepparent adoptions (A.C.A. § 9-9-212), which saves time and expense.

Timeline and cost: Stepparent adoptions in Arkansas typically take 3-6 months. Court filing fees generally run $150-$300, and the total typical cost is under $1,000 when you handle the paperwork yourself. Hiring an attorney commonly runs $3,000-$5,000+. Your Circuit Court clerk can confirm the exact fee in your county.

Adult adoption: Arkansas also permits it. "Any individual may be adopted" (A.C.A. § 9-9-203). Written consent is needed from the adult and the adult's spouse, a hearing is required, and adult adoptions typically take 4-8 weeks.

After the decree: