How do I adopt an adult in Hawaii?

Who can be adopted: In Hawaii, any person may be adopted under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 578, as long as an adult adoptee gives written consent (HRS § 578-1). There is no condition based on relationship, disability, or age gap. The one limit is that the person adopting must not already have a legal parent-child relationship with the adoptee.

Who may file: HRS § 578-1 allows a petition from an unmarried adult, a person married to a parent of a minor child, or a married couple jointly. The statute says "adult" without giving a numeric age, so the Family Court clerk can confirm anything more specific.

The steps in Hawaii:

• Gather consents. You need the adult adoptee's written consent, and the written consent of the adoptee's spouse if the adoptee is married. The adoptee's parents' consent is not required (HRS § 578-2(c)(1)(J)).
• Choose the right court. Petitions go to the Family Court of the circuit (HRS § 578-1). Venue is where you (the petitioners) live or are in military service, or where the adoptee lives or was born. Hawaii has no separate residency requirement.
• Prepare and file the petition. You file the petition and supporting documents with the Family Court. Because the filing fee is not something we can quote reliably, ask the clerk in your county for the current amount.
• Investigation. The court must notify the Director of Human Services and allow time for an investigation and report (HRS § 578-8(a)). The court may waive the notice and investigation by written order if the adoptee's best interests require it (HRS § 578-8(b)). Whether that applies to your situation is for the court to decide.
• Attend the hearing. A hearing is required. No decree may be entered unless the petitioners, any legal parent married to a petitioner, and any adoptee whose consent is required appear personally, unless the court expressly excuses them.

How long it takes: Our timeline for an adult adoption in Hawaii is about 4-8 weeks, though the court's schedule and any investigation can affect it.

After the decree: If you want to change a birth certificate, contact the Hawaii State Department of Health Office of Health Status Monitoring, which handles vital records, to learn the process and any fees.

When to get individual help: If the adoptee's situation involves a dispute, a spouse who will not sign, or any question about how the court will treat a particular circumstance, ask the Family Court clerk or an attorney about that specific issue. Hawaii's rules apply to the facts of each case, and nothing here is legal advice.

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 for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for one adult adoptee. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we offer a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 266 Hawaii families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.