Can I start the adoption process in Washington today?

Yes, you can start your Washington stepparent adoption today. Washington has no minimum residency period you must wait out first (RCW 26.33.030), and it doesn't specify a minimum length of marriage. Nothing in the rules requires you to wait before getting your paperwork going.

What starting today looks like:

• Answer the online questions about your family, the child and the other biological parent.
• Review the court-ready documents we prepare for your county. They arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions.
• Sign the documents and file them with the Superior Court in your county. Washington has 39 counties, and the clerk can confirm exactly where to file.
• Pay the court filing fee, typically $200-$500.

How long the whole process takes: A stepparent adoption in Washington typically takes about 3-6 months from filing to finalization. Starting today means your family gets on that timeline sooner. Your timing will depend on your county's court calendar and on your family's particular facts.

Things to know as you begin:

• Consent from the child: A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (RCW § 26.33.160).
• The other parent: If the other parent will sign consent, that is one path. If they haven't been involved, abandonment may come into play (RCW § 26.33.120). Washington sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct. Whether it applies to your situation is a question for an attorney or the Superior Court clerk, especially if the other parent might contest.
• Background checks: Washington requires criminal background checks for adoptive parents.
• Home study: Home study requirements fall under RCW 26.33.220. Washington allows courts to waive the home study for stepparent adoptions in certain situations, but it isn't automatic. Ask the clerk whether a waiver is available for your family.

Adopting an adult: If you are a stepparent hoping to adopt an adult stepchild, that is also permitted in Washington. The adoptee must be 18 or older, and adoptees 14 and older must consent. The preplacement and post-placement reports aren't required when the adoptee is 18 or older (RCW 26.33.220). A married petitioner's spouse must join the petition (RCW 26.33.150(4)).

What you don't need before beginning: You don't need a hearing date, a finished stack of paperwork or an attorney to answer the first questions. Anything specific to your county or situation can be confirmed with the Superior Court clerk where you plan to file.