Can a stepmother adopt her husband's child in Washington DC?

Yes, a stepmother can ask the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to adopt her husband's child. Under D.C. Code § 16-302, any person may petition for a decree of adoption. A petitioner's spouse joins the petition, or, if the spouse is the child's natural parent (your husband, in this case), only needs to consent. The court decides each case on its own facts.

What the process looks like in Washington DC:

• Court: You file your petition in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The District is a single jurisdiction, so there is no county to choose.
• Residency: Washington DC sets no minimum residency period for filing. Jurisdiction is governed by D.C. Code § 16-301(b).
• Your husband's role: As the child's natural parent and your spouse, he consents to the adoption under D.C. Code § 16-302.
• The child's other parent: Consent rules are in D.C. Code § 16-304, which also sets a six-month abandonment period. Whether the child's mother must consent, or whether abandonment applies, depends on your family's facts. If she is unknown, unreachable or unwilling, ask the Superior Court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.
• The child's consent: The child's own consent is tied to age 14 under D.C. Code § 16-304.
• Home study: For stepparent adoptions, Washington DC waives the home study under D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2), so you generally do not need to schedule one.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Washington DC typically take 3-6 months.
• Court fees: The Superior Court clerk can confirm the current filing fee and any other court costs.

Consents in writing: Consents must be written and acknowledged before an authorized officer (D.C. Code § 16-304). Getting these signed correctly is one of the most important parts of a complete filing.