How do I file for stepparent adoption in Charleston, South Carolina?

You file for stepparent adoption in Charleston by submitting a petition for adoption, along with the supporting papers, to the Family Court in your county. The process follows South Carolina's adoption law, South Carolina Code of Laws Title 63, Chapter 9, and it works the same way statewide.

What you will typically file:

• A Petition for Adoption
• A financial affidavit
• Your spouse's consent to the adoption (your spouse is the child's parent)
• The court filing fee, which usually falls in the $150-$350 range. The Family Court clerk in your county can confirm the exact amount.

Residency: South Carolina sets no minimum residency period for filing under S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A), so you do not have to wait months before you can start.

Home study: A home study is waived for stepparent adoptions under S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1). That removes a step that often adds time and cost in other situations.

Consent from the child: A child who is 14 or older has a consent role under S.C. Code § 63-9-310. If your child is that age, plan for it when you prepare your paperwork.

The other biological parent: This is the part that depends most on your family's facts. South Carolina's abandonment period is 6 months under S.C. Code § 63-7-2570. Whether it applies to your situation, and what the court will require for a parent who is absent or uninvolved, is a question for the Family Court clerk or an attorney. If the other parent's whereabouts are unknown, South Carolina allows service by publication. Otherwise, the other parent is served personally.

After you file:

• The other parent is notified through personal service, or through publication if their location is unknown.
• The court sets a final hearing, where the judge reviews your case and, if everything is in order, finalizes the adoption.

Timeline and cost in Charleston: Stepparent adoptions in South Carolina typically take 3-6 months. The total cost is typically under $1,000 when you prepare and file the paperwork yourself, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ when hiring an attorney. Your actual timeline will depend on how quickly the court schedules your hearing and on whether anything in your case is contested.

When to talk to someone locally: If the other parent objects, cannot be found, or you are unsure how the abandonment period applies, ask the Family Court clerk for procedural information or consult a South Carolina attorney for advice on your specific case. The clerk can also confirm local filing steps, fees and scheduling in your county.

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.