How do I adopt an adult in Washington?

Short answer: In Washington, an adult adoption is handled by filing a petition in the Superior Court of the county where you live (or where the person being adopted is domiciled), getting the required consents, and attending a hearing where the judge enters the decree. Washington's adoption law is Revised Code of Washington Chapter 26.33.

Who can be adopted: Washington law says any person may be adopted, regardless of age or residence (RCW 26.33.140). No relationship between the two of you is required, and the data lists no age-gap condition.

Who can adopt: Any legally competent person who is 18 or older may be an adoptive parent (RCW 26.33.140). If the person adopting is married, their spouse must join the petition (RCW 26.33.150(4)).

Consents you need:

• The adult being adopted must consent. Consent is required from any adoptee 14 or older (RCW 26.33.160(1)).
• If the adoptee has a legal guardian, the guardian's consent is also needed (RCW 26.33.160(1)).
• Parental consent is required only when the adoptee is under 18 (RCW 26.33.160(1)).

If your situation involves a guardianship or a family member who may object, the outcome depends on your specific facts. Ask the Superior Court clerk or an attorney about that issue.

Residency: There is no residency requirement for the adoptee, and no separate residency requirement for the adopter was identified. Venue is the Superior Court in the county where the petitioner lives or the adoptee is domiciled (RCW 26.33.030). Washington has 39 counties, and the clerk in yours can explain local filing procedures.

Home study: It is waived for adult adoptions. The preplacement and post-placement reports are not required if the adoptee is 18 or older (RCW 26.33.220). That removes a step that often slows down adoptions of children.

The hearing: The court schedules a hearing on the petitioner's request. Notice goes to everyone whose consent is required, unless they waive notice in writing. The decree is entered after the hearing (RCW 26.33.240).

Time and cost: Adult adoptions in Washington typically take about 4-8 weeks. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the Superior Court clerk can confirm the exact amount in your county. Hiring an attorney for the whole process often costs $3,000-$5,000 or more.

After the decree: For questions about updating vital records, the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics is the agency to contact.

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 the package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 1104 Washington families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.