Can I adopt my stepchild if I'm in a same-sex marriage in Washington DC?

Yes. In Washington DC, a stepparent in a same-sex marriage can petition to adopt their stepchild. D.C. Code § 16-302 says "Any person may petition the court for a decree of adoption," and the data we work from sets no minimum age or age gap for the person adopting. The petition goes to the Superior Court, and the steps below are the ones for a stepparent adoption in the District.

What the process looks like:

• Court: You file in the Superior Court. Washington DC has a single district, so there is no county choice to make.
• Residency: There is no minimum residency period for a stepparent adoption under D.C. Code § 16-301(b).
• Your child's consent: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process under D.C. Code § 16-304.
• The other legal parent: Their role is addressed in D.C. Code § 16-304, which includes a 6-month abandonment period. Termination of rights is not a separate court case in DC.
• Home study: The investigation and home study are waived for stepparent adoptions under D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2).
• Timeline: A stepparent adoption in Washington DC typically takes 3-6 months.

Where your facts matter: Same-sex families sometimes have questions that depend on their details. For example, your stepchild may have a second legal parent who is not your spouse, or the other parent may be unknown, unreachable, or may object. Washington DC law on those points should be confirmed with the Superior Court clerk or an attorney who can look at your situation. The same goes for how the court will treat any particular legal relationship that already exists between your family members. We can't tell you how a judge will rule in your case.

Before you file: Gather your marriage details, your child's information, and any records about the other parent. Having these ready makes the paperwork much easier. If you aren't sure whether a step applies to you, the clerk's office can tell you what the Superior Court expects.

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 the Superior Court. 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, backed by a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 34,000+ families since 2001, including 71 in Washington DC.