Can I adopt my stepchild if there are unpaid child support arrears in Connecticut?

Whether unpaid child support arrears affect a stepparent adoption in Connecticut is a question to confirm with the Probate Court clerk in your county or with an attorney, because the Connecticut adoption provisions covered here do not address arrears. Here is what we can tell you about how the process works, so you know what to ask.

Arrears and the adoption itself: Nothing in the Connecticut provisions listed below says arrears must be paid, waived or settled before you file. Whether the amount owed changes anything in your case depends on your facts, so ask the clerk or an attorney before you decide on a strategy.

What happens to the money owed: Many parents wonder whether the arrears can still be collected after an adoption, or whether to pursue them first. Connecticut law on that point should be confirmed with an attorney who can look at your support order. It is also worth talking it over with your spouse, since the answer may affect your family's finances.

Abandonment and support history: Connecticut sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-717, abandonment depends on the parent's overall conduct. If your case involves a biological parent who has been absent and unpaid, that history is part of the overall picture, but how a Probate Court weighs it is a question for the clerk or an attorney. If the other parent is expected to contest the adoption, an attorney can advise you on that specific situation.

What the Connecticut process looks like:

• Court: Your adoption is handled by the Probate Court.
• Residency: Connecticut has no minimum residency period under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-727.
• Child's consent: The child's consent is tied to age 12 under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-724.
• Home study: A home study is waived under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-733(a).
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Connecticut typically take 3-6 months.
• Filing fees: The Probate Court clerk in your county can confirm the current fee.

Gathering your paperwork: If you have a support order and a record of what has been paid, keep those documents together.