How much does it cost to adopt my stepchild in Washington if the bio parent agrees?

In Washington, adopting your stepchild when the biological parent agrees typically costs under $1,000 in total if you prepare and file the paperwork yourself, compared with roughly $3,000-$5,000+ if you hire an attorney. Here is how that adds up.

Court filing fee: The Superior Court filing fee typically runs $200-$500. Washington has 39 counties, so the Superior Court clerk in your county can confirm the exact amount before you file.

Document preparation: If you use our service, that is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. This is the other main cost besides the court fee.

Background checks: Washington requires criminal background checks for adoptive parents. The fee for these can vary, so ask the Superior Court clerk in your county what it is and how to get it done.

Other possible costs: If you want an updated birth certificate after the adoption, the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics can tell you its current fees. If a home study applies to your situation, ask the clerk whether there is a cost. Home study is covered by RCW 26.33.220. Washington allows courts to waive the home study in some stepparent adoptions, but it is not automatically waived, so confirm with the clerk whether it applies to you.

What else to know about your situation:

• Residency: Washington has no minimum residency period. The petition is filed in the Superior Court of the county where you live or where the child is domiciled (RCW 26.33.030).
• Child's consent: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (RCW § 26.33.160).
• Abandonment: Because the other parent is agreeing, you are not relying on abandonment. For reference, Washington sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct (RCW § 26.33.120).

Timeline: A stepparent adoption in Washington typically takes about 3-6 months. This affects your costs only indirectly, but it helps to plan for it.

When costs could change: If the biological parent changes their mind, or if there are questions about who must consent, the case may become more complicated. Cost and timing can then change. For those specific issues, talk with the Superior Court clerk or an attorney who can look at your facts.

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. Pricing is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and your court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back this with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 1104 Washington families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.