Can I adopt my stepchild if we recently moved to Washington DC?

Yes, a recent move to Washington DC does not stop you from adopting your stepchild, because Washington DC sets no minimum residency period before you can file. The residency rule is in D.C. Code § 16-301(b), and it does not require you to wait a set number of months after you move.

What this means for your move:

• You do not have to count months from the day you moved in, change your driver's license, or enroll your child in school before starting.
• The Superior Court of the District of Columbia handles stepparent adoptions. Because your case depends on your own circumstances, the court clerk can confirm how D.C. Code § 16-301(b) applies to your move date and living situation.
• If you are between homes or still moving between states, ask the clerk before filing.

Other points that matter for a newly arrived family:

• Child's consent: A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (D.C. Code § 16-304).
• The other biological parent: Whether that parent must consent, or whether the situation counts as abandonment, depends on your facts. The abandonment period in Washington DC is 6 months (D.C. Code § 16-304). If the other parent is absent, unknown, or may object, talk to the Superior Court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.
• Home study: Washington DC waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2)). That removes one step many families expect.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Washington DC typically take 3-6 months once filed.
• Court fees: The clerk can confirm the current filing fees.

Getting ready now:

• Gather your marriage certificate and your stepchild's birth certificate. Records from Washington DC are handled by the DC Department of Health Vital Records.
• Collect any paperwork about the other parent, such as a consent form, a court order, or a record of how long they have been out of contact.
• Write down your move-in date and keep proof of your address, such as a lease or utility bill, in case the clerk asks.
• Decide whether your stepchild, if 14 or older, is comfortable with the adoption, since their consent is needed.

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. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 71 Washington DC families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.