Can a step-grandparent adopt a grandchild in South Carolina?

Possibly, but South Carolina's rules for stepparent adoption are written with a stepparent in mind, so whether a step-grandparent can adopt a grandchild depends on your family's facts, and the Family Court clerk in your county or an attorney should confirm it before you file. Here is what South Carolina law does tell you.

Where it is filed: Adoptions are handled by the Family Court in the county where the case is filed. The adoption laws are in South Carolina Code of Laws Title 63, Chapter 9.

Who may petition: The statute on who may adopt refers to "any South Carolina resident" (S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-60). South Carolina has no minimum residency period before you file (S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A)). Whether a step-grandparent fits within that wording for a minor grandchild is a question for the clerk or an attorney.

Points that often matter in a family like yours:

• Child's consent: The child's consent age is 14 (S.C. Code § 63-9-310).
• Abandonment: South Carolina's abandonment period is 6 months (S.C. Code § 63-7-2570). Whether a parent's situation meets it depends on the facts. If a parent is absent, deceased, or may object, talk with an attorney about that specific issue.
• Home study: South Carolina waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1)). Whether that waiver reaches a step-grandparent is something to confirm with the clerk or an attorney.
• Timeline: A stepparent adoption typically takes 3-6 months. A step-grandparent's timeline may differ, and the clerk can tell you what to expect.

If your grandchild is an adult: South Carolina permits one adult to adopt another adult (S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1120). The statute sets no relationship or age-gap condition for adult adoption. Consent comes from the person being adopted and, if the adopting person is married, that person's spouse.