Can my spouse adopt my child from a previous relationship in New Hampshire?

Yes, a stepparent in New Hampshire can adopt their spouse's child from a previous relationship, and the case is filed in the Circuit Court. Here is how the main pieces work.

Who can adopt. Your spouse must be an adult, meaning 18 or older (RSA 170-B:4). When a married person adopts, the other spouse joins in the petition or assents to it, as RSA 170-B:4 describes.

Residency. New Hampshire has no minimum residency period for this kind of petition (RSA 170-B:15, I). You do not need to wait a set number of months before filing.

Your child's consent. A child who is 14 or older has a consent role in the adoption (RSA 170-B:3, I). Younger children are not asked to consent in the same way. If your child is close to that age, the court clerk can explain how it works in practice.

The other biological parent. This is the part that depends most on your family's facts. In New Hampshire, the other parent's rights are generally addressed either through their consent or through a showing of abandonment, and the abandonment period is 6 months (RSA § 170-C:5). Termination of parental rights is handled as a separate step from the adoption itself. Whether it applies to you depends on your situation. If the other parent is unknown, cannot be found, or may object, talk to the Circuit Court clerk in your county or an attorney about that specific issue.

Home study. A home study is waived for stepparent adoptions in New Hampshire (RSA § 170-B:18). You do not need to schedule one before your hearing.

Timeline. Stepparent adoptions in New Hampshire typically take 3-6 months. The exact pace depends on your county's court schedule and on whether the other parent's rights are straightforward to address.

Court fees. Filing fees are set by the court. The Circuit Court clerk in your county can confirm the current amount.

After the adoption is final. Your spouse becomes your child's legal parent, with the rights and responsibilities that come with that role. For questions about updating your child's birth record, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration is the agency to contact.

Things to confirm with the clerk or an attorney:

• How the court will tre