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

Yes. In Washington DC you can adopt your stepchild even if the child is a newborn or infant. The law says "a person, whether a minor or an adult, may be adopted" (D.C. Code § 16-303), and it does not set a minimum age for the child in the sections we reviewed.

Who can file: "Any person may petition the court for a decree of adoption" (D.C. Code § 16-302). The petition goes to the Superior Court. If you are married to the child's parent, your spouse generally consents rather than joining the petition, because a spouse who is the child's natural parent only needs to consent (D.C. Code § 16-302).

Residency: Washington DC has no minimum residency period for filing (D.C. Code § 16-301(b)), so a recent move or a very new baby does not create a waiting period on that point.

Consent and the other parent: This is usually the main question with an infant. Consents must be written and acknowledged before an authorized officer (D.C. Code § 16-304). Washington DC also sets an abandonment period of 6 months (D.C. Code § 16-304), and with a newborn that much time may not have passed. Whether that period applies to your family, and what to do if the other biological parent is unknown, unreachable or objects, depends on your facts. Please check with the Superior Court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.

Child's consent: A child's own consent comes into play at age 14 (D.C. Code § 16-304). A newborn or infant is well below that age.

Home study: For stepparent adoptions, Washington DC waives the home study (D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2)). That can keep the process simpler when you are adopting a baby.

Timeline and costs: Stepparent adoptions in Washington DC typically take 3-6 months. Court filing fees are set by the Superior Court, so the clerk can confirm the current amount.

Why many parents file early:

• Your legal relationship to the child is settled from the start of the child's life.
• You can be recognized as a parent for medical and insurance matters once the decree is entered.
• Questions about updating the birth record after the decree go to the DC Department of Health Vital Records, which can tell you what it requires.

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 with the Superior Court, without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents are delivered 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.