Can a step-grandparent adopt a grandchild in New Hampshire?

A step-grandparent may be able to adopt a grandchild in New Hampshire, because adoption by an adult is governed by RSA 170-B:4 and adopters must be adults (18 or older). Whether your particular case works depends on the child's parents and the facts of your family, so confirm those points with the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney.

What the law clearly gives you

• Who can adopt: Adopters must be adults, meaning 18 or older (RSA 170-B:4; RSA 170-B:2, I and XI). The statute sets no age gap between adopter and child.
• Where you file: The Circuit Court in your New Hampshire county. The state has 10 counties.
• Residency: New Hampshire sets no minimum residency period for filing (RSA 170-B:15, I).
• Child's consent: A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (RSA 170-B:3, I).

What depends on your family's facts

New Hampshire's stepparent rules are written around a stepparent and the child's parent. A step-grandparent is one step further removed, so the data I have does not tell me how the court treats your relationship, or which parents must consent or have their rights ended. Please ask the Circuit Court clerk in your county or an attorney about:

• which parents' consent or rights are involved in your situation,
• whether the home study provisions (RSA § 170-B:18) apply to a step-grandparent, and
• the current filing fee, which the clerk can confirm.

If a parent is absent or unreachable