Your question, explained
In Pennsylvania, children age 12 and older must give their consent to the adoption (23 Pa.C.S. § 2711). 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 Pennsylvania at a glance
- Court
- Orphans' Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$500
- Child must consent at age
- 12
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Pennsylvania families we've helped
- 1,250
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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