How do I adopt an adult in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, you adopt an adult by filing a petition in District Court. This route is open only if you were a stepparent, grandparent or other blood relative, foster parent or legal guardian who took part in raising the adult when they were a child, and the adult files a consent with the court (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-102(b)).

Who can adopt: The adopter must be an adult who has lived in Wyoming for the 60 days immediately before filing, and the court must find the adopter fit and competent to be a parent (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103). A petition may be filed by a single adult or jointly by a husband and wife who maintain their home together (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(b)).

Where the adult lives: The adult being adopted may live inside or outside Wyoming (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-102(b)). The 60-day residency requirement applies to the adopter, not the adult.

Where to file: Adoption proceedings begin with a petition filed in District Court (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(a)). Wyoming has 23 counties, so you file in the District Court in your county, in cities such as Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette or Rock Springs. The clerk can tell you the current filing fee, since we do not quote a figure.

Consent: The adult's consent is the key piece.

• The adult must file a consent with the court.
• The adult is served with the petition and a summons.
• If the adult objects, the petition is dismissed. If the adult consents, the petition "shall be granted" (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-113).
• Wyoming's adult adoption provisions do not state a consent requirement for the adult's parents. If you wonder whether anyone else needs to be involved in your situation, ask the District Court clerk or an attorney.

Home study and hearing: A home study is not addressed for adult adoptions. The investigation provision (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-111(a)(ii)) is written for a child, so ask the clerk whether anything similar applies in your county. A hearing is not expressly required by Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-113, which says that when the adult consents, the petition shall be granted and a final decree entered. Hearings in adoption proceedings are closed unless the court orders otherwise (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-105). Your clerk can tell you whether your judge will set one.

Timeline: An adult adoption in Wyoming generally runs about 4-8 weeks, though your county's court schedule can affect that.

Steps in short:

• Confirm you fit one of the listed relationships and that the adult is willing to consent.
• Make sure you meet the 60-day residency requirement.
• Prepare the petition, the adult's consent and the summons for your county's District Court.
• File, have the adult served, and wait for the decree.

If your situation is unusual, such as a possible objection or a question about who must be notified, an attorney or the District Court clerk can answer that for your facts. Questions about updating records after the decree can go to the clerk or Wyoming Vital Statistics Services.

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 file it yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for one adult adoptee, and your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions.