Your question, explained
In Minnesota, children age 14 and older must give their consent to the adoption (Minn. Stat. § 259.24). This is a positive thing — it ensures the child is part of this important decision. In our experience, children are almost always enthusiastic about being officially adopted by their stepparent. The court will typically speak with the child briefly during the finalization hearing to confirm their consent.
Stepparent adoption in Minnesota at a glance
- Court
- District Court
- Residency before filing
- 1 year (the court may shorten it to 30 days, and may waive it for a stepparent)
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Minnesota families we've helped
- 189
Published by Douglas Brown & the StepParent Adoption 360 team
Adoption document specialists · 25+ years of experience · 34,000+ families helped.
Page layout updated . Individual answers have different research histories. This is general information; court requirements and individual circumstances can differ. Document preparation service, not a law firm.
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