Can I adopt my stepchild if we're not married?

Traditional stepparent adoption requires a legal marriage. However, many states now allow second parent adoption for unmarried couples.

States where we've completed adoptions for unmarried couples include:

California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C.

Options if you're not married:

1. Get married first — then stepparent adoption has a clear legal framework in every state

2. Second parent adoption — available in many states for unmarried partners

3. Guardianship — provides some legal authority but is NOT the same as adoption (temporary, revocable)

Our recommendation: If you plan to marry, consider doing so before filing the adoption. It simplifies the process significantly. If marriage isn't planned, call us at (855) 924-0450 to discuss your state's options for unmarried couples.

Our fee is the same $349 regardless of the adoption type.