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

Yes. If you are married to your newborn or infant stepchild's parent, you can petition to adopt in the Chancery or Circuit Court in your Tennessee county. Whether the baby's age affects anything beyond the usual requirements is best confirmed with the Chancery or Circuit Court clerk in your county.

What you will need to file:

• A petition for adoption
• A sworn statement of financial responsibility
• Your spouse's consent to the adoption (the baby's parent who is married to you)
• The court filing fee, which runs about $150-$350 in Tennessee

Tennessee does not set a minimum marriage length, though courts generally prefer to see a stable relationship. Tennessee also sets no minimum residency period before you file (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-115).

The other biological parent: This is usually the biggest question with a very young baby. Tennessee looks at either the other parent's consent or abandonment, and the abandonment period is 4 months (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113). With a newborn, that time may not have passed yet, so your path depends on whether the other parent will consent. If you cannot locate the other parent, Tennessee allows service by publication after a diligent search. Situations where the other parent is unknown, disputes the adoption, or has never been involved depend on your facts. Talk to the court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.

Child's consent: Tennessee's child consent age is 14 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-117), so a newborn or infant has no consent role in the case.

Home study: Tennessee waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-116), which removes a step that often adds time elsewhere.

Timeline and cost: Stepparent adoptions in Tennessee typically take about 3-6 months. Total cost is often under $1,000 when you prepare and file the paperwork yourself, compared with roughly $3,000-$5,000+ with an attorney.

Why families file early:

• Your legal relationship with the child is established from the start
• You can have legal standing for medical and insurance decisions as the child's parent
• Once the adoption is final, the Tennessee Office of Vital Records is the agency that handles birth records, and your county clerk can explain how the adoption order is used for any updates

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.