Can I adopt my stepchild who is a newborn or infant in New Hampshire?

Yes. You can pursue a stepparent adoption of a newborn or infant stepchild in New Hampshire, and there is no minimum residency period you must meet before filing (RSA 170-B:15, I). Adopters must be adults, meaning 18 or older (RSA 170-B:4). Because the child is a baby, the questions that matter most are about the other parent, not the child's age.

Where you file: The Circuit Court in your county handles the adoption. New Hampshire has 10 counties, and the filing fee and local procedures are set by the clerk, so ask the Circuit Court clerk in your county for the current fee.

Timing: Since New Hampshire has no residency waiting period, you do not have to wait for a set amount of time in the state before you file. Stepparent adoptions here typically take about 3-6 months.

The other parent's rights: This is the step that usually needs the most attention with a newborn.

• Ending the other legal parent's rights is a separate step from the adoption itself.
• New Hampshire's abandonment period is 6 months (RSA § 170-C:5). With a very young baby, that much time may not have passed yet.
• If the other parent is willing to give consent, that is a different path from a case based on abandonment.
• If the other parent is unknown, uninvolved, or objects, the outcome depends on your specific facts. Talk to the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about that situation.

The child's consent: In New Hampshire, a child's own consent applies at age 14 (RSA 170-B:3, I). A newborn or infant is far younger than that, so the child's consent is not part of your case.

Home study: New Hampshire waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (RSA § 170-B:18). That removes one step that can slow other kinds of adoption.

After the adoption: Questions about updating the birth certificate go to the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration. Ask them what they need from you once you have your final decree.

Why some families act early: Many stepparents want to be a baby's legal parent from the start. Others want to settle the other parent's rights while the child is young. Whether and when to file is your decision. If your situation is complicated, an attorney can advise you on timing.