Can I adopt my stepchild if we recently moved to Illinois?

Yes, you can adopt your stepchild even if you just moved to Illinois, because Illinois has no residency period for a stepparent adoption. The 6-month rule does not apply to a related child (750 ILCS 50/2). Your move date should not hold up your filing.

What this means for you:

• You don't have to wait out a residency period before you start.
• You can begin preparing your paperwork right away.
• The adoption is filed in the Circuit Court. Illinois has 102 counties, so the Circuit Court clerk in your county can tell you where and how to file, and whether the local court has any extra requirements.

If you moved from another state: Questions about which state's court is right for your family, or how the move affects a case that was already underway, depend on your facts. Ask the Circuit Court clerk in your Illinois county, or an attorney, about your specific situation.

What stays the same after a move:

• Consent from the child: A child who is 14 or older has a consent role in the adoption (750 ILCS 50/12).
• The other parent: Where the other parent is involved, the court looks at consent or at the grounds for proceeding without it. Illinois refers to an abandonment period of 12 months (750 ILCS 50/1). Illinois also has procedures for cases where the other parent cannot be located. If the other parent is unknown, unreachable or likely to contest, talk with an attorney or the court clerk about your case.
• Home study: Illinois does not require a home study for most stepparent adoptions (750 ILCS 50/6).

Documents to gather now:

• Your marriage certificate
• Your stepchild's birth certificate. If the child was born in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records issues certified copies.
• Any records about the other parent's consent or absence

Timeline and cost: A stepparent adoption in Illinois typically takes 3-6 months once filed. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the typical total cost with our service is under $565. Hiring an attorney commonly costs $3,000-$5,000+. Your Circuit Court clerk can confirm the exact fee in your county.

Adopting an adult stepchild: Illinois allows adult adoption with the adult child's consent, and the timeline is typically 4-8 weeks.

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 (or for one adult adoptee) 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 1101 Illinois families, and more than 34,000 families nationwide since 2001.