How do I adopt an adult in South Carolina?

To adopt an adult in South Carolina, you file a petition in the Family Court of the county where the adoptive parent lives, provide written consents, and attend a hearing where the judge decides whether the adoption is in the best interests of the people involved. Adult adoptions typically take about 4-8 weeks.

Who can be adopted: South Carolina allows one adult to adopt another adult under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1120. That section sets no relationship condition, no prior-relationship condition and no age-gap condition. The adoptive parent must be an adult (18 or older), and the person being adopted must be an adult too. If your situation involves anything unusual, the Family Court clerk or an attorney can tell you how the court views it.

Where to file: The petition goes to the Family Court in the county where the adoptive parents reside. South Carolina has 46 counties, and each has its own clerk's office, so check local filing details with the clerk. There is no separate residency waiting period for adult adoption. The county-of-residence rule suggests the adoptive parents should live in South Carolina, so confirm any residency questions with the clerk.

Consents you will need:

• The person being adopted, or that person's guardian.
• The spouse, if any, of a sole adoptive parent.
• All consents are filed in writing with the court.

The biological parents' consent is not listed for adult adoption. If you wonder whether a birth parent has any role in your case, ask the clerk or an attorney.

Home study: South Carolina does not require a home study for adult adoption by statute. The court may make "those investigations as the court considers advisable," so a judge could ask for more in a particular case.

The hearing: A hearing on the petition is required. After it, the judge may enter the decree if the adoption is found to be in the best interests of the persons involved. Most of the work is in preparing the paperwork correctly before then.

Costs: Court filing fees in South Carolina typically run $150-$350, and the total cost of a self-filed adoption is typically under $1,000. Your county clerk can confirm the exact fee.

After the decree: If you want an updated birth certificate, South Carolina DHEC Vital Records is the agency to ask about the steps and any fees.

Steps in short:

• Confirm you are filing in the right county's Family Court.
• Prepare the petition and the written consents.
• File with the clerk and pay the filing fee.
• Attend the hearing.
• Request any record updates after the decree is entered.

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, and you receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back this with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 942 South Carolina families and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.