Can I adopt my stepchild if the biological parent is a drug addict in Wyoming?

Yes, a stepparent can ask a Wyoming District Court to approve adopting a stepchild when the other biological parent struggles with drug addiction, but the outcome depends on the facts of your family, especially whether that parent consents or has abandoned the child.

Wyoming's adoption statutes, as we read them, don't address addiction by name. How a parent's substance use is treated in a contested case is a question for the District Court clerk in your county or an attorney.

Where abandonment fits: Wyoming has no fixed number of months that counts as abandonment. Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-110, abandonment depends on the parent's overall conduct. If addiction has kept the parent out of your stepchild's life, it is the parent's actual conduct that matters, not a label. It helps to keep a clear record:

• Dates and length of any absence or lack of contact
• Missed visits, calls, or support, and any attempts to keep the relationship going
• The stable home you and your spouse provide

If the parent agrees: Some parents recognize they can't parent right now and are willing to cooperate. Whether and how consent is needed in your situation is worth confirming with the clerk or an attorney.

If the parent objects or can't be found: These cases depend heavily on the facts. Talk to an attorney about your specific situation.

Wyoming basics that apply to you:

• Court: Adoption petitions are filed in District Court in your county. Wyoming has 23 counties, and the clerk can explain local filing steps and the current filing fee.
• Residency: You must have lived in Wyoming for 60 days immediately before filing (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103).
• Your stepchild's consent: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-109).
• Home study: Wyoming waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-111(a)(ii)), which can spare you a step that many adoptive families face.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Wyoming typically take about 3-6 months. A contested case may take longer, and the clerk or an attorney can tell you more.

What to do next:

• Write down a timeline of the biological parent's involvement, including any contact, support, and missed visits.
• Gather any records you already have, such as messages or court orders, that show that history.
• Ask the District Court clerk in your county how they handle cases where the other parent's consent is uncertain.
• Consult an attorney if you expect the parent to contest the adoption or you aren't sure where they are.

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. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 191 Wyoming families so far.