How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in New Hampshire?

You adopt a stepchild in New Hampshire by filing a petition in the Circuit Court, with the required consents and paperwork, and then completing the court's review. The process is typically 3-6 months from start to finish.

Who can adopt: You must be an adult, meaning 18 or older (RSA 170-B:4). New Hampshire's adoption rules are in New Hampshire Revised Statutes Chapter 170-B.

Where you file: The Circuit Court handles the case. New Hampshire has 10 counties, so you will file with the court serving your county. The clerk there can tell you the current filing fee and local procedures.

Residency: New Hampshire has no minimum residency period for this kind of adoption (RSA 170-B:15, I). You do not have to wait a set number of months before filing.

Consent from your stepchild: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is required (RSA 170-B:3, I). For a younger child, the court looks at the situation as a whole, and the clerk can explain how it handles a child under 14.

The other legal parent: This is often the most important question in a stepparent adoption. The other parent's rights must be addressed, either through their consent or through a separate termination process. In New Hampshire, termination is handled as its own step rather than automatically as part of the adoption. One ground the law recognizes is abandonment, which uses a six-month period (RSA § 170-C:5). Whether it applies to you depends on your facts, such as contact and support history, or an unknown or unreachable parent. For those situations, ask the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about your specific case.

Home study: New Hampshire's home study requirement is waived for stepparent adoptions (RSA § 170-B:18). You will not need to schedule a social worker's home visit.

Basic steps:

• Confirm you are 18 or older and gather your family's names, dates of birth, and marriage information.
• Identify who must consent, including your stepchild if they are 14 or older, and whether the other parent's rights need separate attention.
• Prepare the petition and supporting forms for your county's Circuit Court.
• File with the clerk and pay the filing fee the clerk quotes you.
• Attend any hearing the court schedules and follow the court's instructions.

After the decree: Once the adoption is final, you can ask the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration about your child's updated birth record. The clerk can tell you what paperwork to bring.

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 cost is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and they come with a 100% court acceptance guarantee.