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

Yes. Nevada has no minimum residency period before you can file, so a recent move does not stop you from starting a stepparent adoption. This is covered in NRS 127D.120(1).

What the move means for you:

• You do not have to wait months after arriving in Nevada before filing.
• Your case is filed in a Nevada District Court. Nevada has 17 counties, and each has its own court and clerk. The District Court clerk in your county can confirm exactly where your petition should be filed and what the filing fee is.
• Cities such as Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, North Las Vegas and Sparks are served by their county's District Court.

Other Nevada points to know:

• Child's consent: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (NRS 127D.110(1)(c)).
• Home study: Nevada waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (NRS chapter 127D), so you generally do not need to schedule one.
• The other biological parent: Their consent or the end of their parental rights is often the biggest question. Termination is handled as a separate step from the adoption itself. Nevada's abandonment period is 6 months (NRS § 128.012). Whether that applies depends on your family's facts. If the other parent is unknown, unreachable or likely to object, talk to the District Court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Nevada typically take about 3-6 months once filed.

Getting ready:

• Gather your marriage certificate and your stepchild's birth certificate.
• If you need a certified copy of a Nevada record, the Nevada Office of Vital Records is the agency to contact.
• Collect any paperwork about the other parent, such as a custody order, a signed consent, or records of contact or support.
• Write down your current Nevada address and the date you moved, since the court forms ask for your residence.

If you moved from another state: Orders or paperwork from your previous state, such as a custody or divorce order, may be relevant to your case. Ask the District Court clerk in your Nevada county how the court wants them presented. A court order from elsewhere does not change the fact that Nevada sets no waiting period for residency.

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. Your court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We have helped 518 Nevada families and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001, and our work comes with a 100% court acceptance guarantee.