How do I adopt an adult in Washington DC?

You adopt an adult in Washington DC by filing a petition for adoption in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, with the written consent of the adult you want to adopt. The law says a person, "whether a minor or an adult," may be adopted (D.C. Code § 16-303), and the court grants the adoption if it is satisfied that it should be granted (D.C. Code § 16-304).

Who can petition: Any person may petition the court for a decree of adoption (D.C. Code § 16-302). The data lists no minimum age for the adopting person, and no relationship or disability condition applies. If you are married, your spouse must join the petition. If your spouse is the adoptee's natural parent, your spouse only needs to consent (D.C. Code § 16-302).

Residency: The court has jurisdiction if you are a legal resident of DC, or if you have actually lived in DC for at least one year before filing (D.C. Code § 16-301(b)). If your situation is close to the line, ask the Superior Court clerk how residency applies to an adult adoption.

Consent: The adult being adopted must consent. Consents must be in writing and acknowledged before an authorized officer (D.C. Code § 16-304). The parental-consent rules in that section apply to adoptees under 18, not to adults.

Home study: For an adult adoption, the court dispenses with the investigation, report, and interlocutory decree (D.C. Code § 16-308). The statute keeps certain child-protection provisions in place, including a fingerprint-based criminal records check. Whether they apply to an adult adoption is something to confirm with the clerk before you file.

Hearing and decision: The court decides after considering the petition, the consents, and the evidence the parties present (D.C. Code § 16-309). Ask the clerk whether a hearing will be scheduled in your case and what to bring.

Timeline: Adult adoptions in Washington DC generally take about 4-8 weeks. Court scheduling can change that.

Fees and records: The clerk can confirm the current filing fee. After the adoption, the DC Department of Health Vital Records is the agency to ask about any change to a birth record.

When to get individual help: If the adoption might be contested, or if you are unsure who must be involved, ask the clerk or an attorney about your specific facts. The answer can depend on details that a general guide cannot cover.

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. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for one adult adoptee. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 71 Washington DC families, and 34,000+ families nationally since 2001.