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

Yes. Wisconsin has no minimum residency period for a stepparent adoption, so you can file as soon as you are a Wisconsin resident and your paperwork is ready.

Who can adopt. Under Wis. Stat. § 48.82, eligible adopters are Wisconsin residents who are a husband and wife adopting jointly, either spouse if the other is the minor's parent, or an unmarried adult. As a stepparent, you adopt as the spouse of the child's parent. The Circuit Court clerk in your county can tell you what proof of Wisconsin residency the court expects from a family that has just moved.

Where you file. Stepparent adoptions are handled by the Circuit Court. Wisconsin has 72 counties, each with its own clerk. If your family has ties to more than one state, or the child's other parent lives elsewhere, ask the clerk or an attorney which court is the right one for your situation before you file.

Other points to know:

• Child's consent: Wisconsin does not require the child's consent. A child 14 or older attends the hearing unless the court orders otherwise.
• Home study: A home study is waived for stepparent adoptions under Wis. Stat. § 48.88.
• The other parent: Wisconsin's abandonment period is 6 months under Wis. Stat. § 48.415. Whether your situation fits that ground depends on your facts. If the other legal parent will not consent, or you do not know where that parent is, an attorney or the court clerk can advise you on your specific case.
• Timeline: Once you file, a stepparent adoption in Wisconsin typically takes about 3-6 months.

Getting ready. Since no residency waiting period applies, you can begin gathering your paperwork right away, such as your marriage certificate, the child's birth certificate, and any records about the other parent. The clerk's office can confirm the current filing fee and any local forms or procedures for your county.

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. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and every package is backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 385 Wisconsin families, and 34,000+ families nationwide since 2001.