Can I adopt my stepchild if the bio parent only sends texts to my spouse but never contacts the child in Washington DC?

Texting your spouse is NOT meaningful contact with the child. In Washington DC, abandonment under D.C. Code § 16-304 is about the parent's relationship with the child — not with your spouse.

What counts as contact WITH THE CHILD:

• Visits with the child
• Phone calls or video calls to the child
• Letters or messages directed to the child
• Participation in the child's activities, school, or medical care

What does NOT count:

• Texts to your spouse about unrelated matters
• Texts to your spouse saying "tell the kid I love them" (without actual contact)
• Social media posts about "missing" the child
• Conversations about child support or custody
• Any communication with adults that does not involve actual interaction with the child

If the bio parent has had no direct contact with the child for 6+ months, regardless of their texts to your spouse, the court can find abandonment.

We prepare your abandonment affidavit documenting exactly this situation — the distinction between contacting your spouse and contacting the child. Courts understand this difference.

Cost: $349 | Court: Superior Court | Timeline: 3-6 months

Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register.