Can I adopt my stepchild if I'm currently pregnant in New Hampshire?

Yes, you can pursue a stepparent adoption in New Hampshire while you are pregnant. The requirements below concern you, your spouse, your stepchild and the child's other parent, and pregnancy is not one of them. If you have a question specific to your due date, the Circuit Court clerk in your county can answer it.

What to expect in New Hampshire:

• Court: Your petition is filed in the Circuit Court in your county. New Hampshire has 10 counties, and the clerk can tell you about local filing details and court fees.
• Residency: New Hampshire sets no minimum residency period for this adoption (RSA 170-B:15, I). You do not have to wait a set number of months before filing.
• Your stepchild's consent: A child who is 14 or older must consent (RSA 170-B:3, I).
• The other parent: Their rights are addressed through a separate termination process. New Hampshire sets a six-month abandonment period (RSA § 170-C:5). Whether it applies depends on your family's facts, so if the other parent is absent, unknown or likely to object, talk to the clerk or an attorney about your situation.
• Home study: It is waived in stepparent adoptions (RSA § 170-B:18), which means one less step to schedule around a pregnancy.

Timing around your due date: A stepparent adoption in New Hampshire typically takes 3-6 months. If you would like it finished before the baby arrives, that is a reason to start early. Because court scheduling varies, ask the clerk in your county how hearing dates are set. That way you can plan around your due date and recovery.

Why some parents choose to do it now: Some families prefer to settle everything for their stepchild before a newborn takes up their time. It is a personal choice, not a requirement, and nothing in New Hampshire's process says you must wait until after the baby is born.

Questions that depend on your facts: Your situation may involve a contested case, an unknown parent, or questions about your new baby's paperwork. Those depend on your circumstances, so confirm them with the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney. For birth certificate questions, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration is the agency that handles vital records.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 114 New Hampshire families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.