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

Yes. If you are married to your stepchild's parent, you can file a petition in Wyoming to adopt your stepchild, whether the child is a newborn or an infant. A petition may be filed by either spouse if the other is the child's parent (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(b)). Wyoming's adoption statutes do not set a separate track for babies. If you have a question about the timing of a very young child's case, the District Court clerk in your county can confirm it.

What to line up before you file:

• Residency: You must have lived in Wyoming for 60 days immediately before filing (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103). If you married after the baby was born, this is the main timing question for you.
• Court: The case is filed in the District Court in your county. Wyoming has 23 counties, including those around Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette and Rock Springs.
• Who files: A petition may be filed by any single adult, or by either spouse if the other is the child's parent (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(b)).

The child's consent: Wyoming sets the child's consent age at 14 (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-109). A newborn or infant is far younger than that.

The other biological parent: This is where facts matter most. Wyoming has no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-110). For a baby, that means you cannot simply count months on a calendar. Whether the other parent must consent, is unknown, or is involved in the child's life changes your path. If the situation is contested or the other parent can't be identified or found, talk to the District Court clerk or an attorney about your specific case.

Home study: Wyoming waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22