How do I adopt an adult in Minnesota?

To adopt an adult in Minnesota, you file a petition in the District Court of the county where you live, and the adult you want to adopt gives written consent. Minnesota law says "Any adult person may be adopted, regardless of the adult person's residence" (Minn. Stat. § 259.241). A Minnesota resident may petition to adopt someone 18 or older.

Who can adopt. You must be a Minnesota resident. The general rule is one year of residence, but the court may shorten that to 30 days, and the residency requirement can be waived for relatives or important friends (Minn. Stat. § 259.22, subd. 1). No minimum age for the adopter is stated in the statute.

Who can be adopted. The adoptee's residence does not matter. No particular relationship and no age gap are required. The one limit in the statute is that the adoptee's consent is not valid if the person is a "vulnerable adult" or is not competent to consent. A person in extended foster care may consent if the court finds them competent.

Consent. In an adult adoption, the adult's written consent is the only consent the statute requires (Minn. Stat. § 259.24, subd. 4). If you are married, your spouse must also sign the petition. If your situation involves a contested matter or a question about other family members, ask an attorney or the court clerk about that specific issue.

Home study. Not needed. Minnesota does not require an adoption study or background study in an adult adoption (Minn. Stat. § 259.41).

Where to file. Juvenile court has original jurisdiction over adoption proceedings, and the case is filed in the county where the petitioner lives (Minn. Stat. § 259.23, subds. 1-2). Minnesota has 87 counties, from Hennepin (Minneapolis) to St. Louis (Duluth). The District Court clerk in your county can tell you about local filing procedures and the current filing fee.

The hearing. The decree is entered after a hearing (Minn. Stat. § 259.57, subd. 1). Whether the court will make any adjustments to the hearing for an adult adoption is something to confirm with the clerk.

Timeline. An adult adoption in Minnesota typically takes about 4-8 weeks.

Steps in order:

• Confirm that you meet the residency rule and that the adult you want to adopt can give competent written consent.
• Prepare the petition, signed by you (and your spouse, if married), and the adult's written consent.
• File in the District Court in your county of residence.
• Attend the hearing, after which the court enters the decree.
• For questions about records after the decree, contact the Minnesota Office of Vital Records.

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 price is $349 for one adult adoptee. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 189 Minnesota families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.