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

Yes. There is no minimum age for the child being adopted. You can file for stepparent adoption of a newborn or infant in West Virginia as soon as you meet the requirements.

Key considerations for newborn adoption:

Timing:

• You must be legally married to the child's biological parent
• You must meet the 0-month residency requirement in West Virginia
• If you just married after the baby was born, you can file right away (assuming residency is met)

Consent:

• The biological father must either consent or meet the abandonment threshold (6 months, W. Va. Code § 48-22-306)
• For newborns, the abandonment period may not have elapsed yet — so you may need to wait or obtain consent
• If the father was never on the birth certificate and is unknown, the process is simpler

Why adopting early matters:

• The child will only ever know you as their parent
• Medical decision-making authority from the start
• Insurance coverage as your legal child
• Birth certificate reflects your name from the earliest possible date
• No confusing transition for the child later

No child consent required — infants obviously cannot consent, and West Virginia's consent age is 12

Cost: $349 + court fees | Timeline: 3-6 months | Court: Circuit Court

Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register or call (855) 924-0450.