In this answer · 3 sections
In New York, stepparent adoptions are filed in Family Court or Surrogate's Court. The specific court location depends on which county you live in.
How to find your court:
- Determine which county you live in (your home address determines this)
- Find the Family Court or Surrogate's Court for that county
- File your petition at that courthouse
New York has 62 counties, each with its own court system. Our document package is customized for your specific county's requirements, forms, and procedures.
What we include in your $349 package:
- All forms specific to your county
- The courthouse address and filing instructions
- Any supplemental local forms required
- Filing fee information for your specific court
What to do when you get to the courthouse:
- Go to the clerk's office (usually on the main floor)
- Tell them you are filing a Petition for Stepparent Adoption
- Hand them your signed documents
- Pay the filing fee ($200-$500)
- Get your stamped copies back with the case number
You do NOT need an appointment — most courts accept filings during regular business hours.
We've helped families file in every county in New York. Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register.
Stepparent adoption in New York at a glance
- Court
- Family Court or Surrogate's Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$500
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- May be required
- New York families we've helped
- 1,119
Adoption document specialists · 25+ years of experience · 34,000+ families helped.
Page layout updated . Individual answers have different research histories. This is general information; court requirements and individual circumstances can differ. Document preparation service, not a law firm.
Get to know our team →