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Yes! Same-sex stepparent adoption is fully legal in West Virginia and all 50 states since the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision.
The process is identical to any other stepparent adoption:
- Legal marriage required (same-sex marriages are recognized nationwide)
- 0 months West Virginia residency
- Consent or abandonment of the other biological parent
- Background check
- Child consent if age 12+
- Home study waived for stepparents in West Virginia
Common LGBTQ+ scenarios we handle:
- Wife adopting wife's biological child from prior relationship
- Husband adopting husband's biological child from prior relationship
- Second-parent adoption for unmarried same-sex couples (available in some West Virginia counties)
Important: There should be no discrimination based on sexual orientation in the adoption process. If you experience any issues, document them and contact an LGBTQ+ family law advocacy organization.
Filed in: Circuit Court
Cost: $349 document preparation
Timeline: 3-6 months
We've helped many LGBTQ+ families complete their adoptions. Your family deserves the same legal protections as any other. Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register.
Stepparent adoption in West Virginia at a glance
- Court
- Circuit Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$400
- Child must consent at age
- 12
- Home study
- May be required
- West Virginia families we've helped
- 252
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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