How old do you have to be to adopt in South Carolina?

You must be an adult to adopt in South Carolina, and the statute names no specific minimum age beyond that. South Carolina law defines an "adoptive parent" as "an adult who has become a parent of a child through the legal process of adoption" (S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-30(3)). The law that says who may adopt (S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-60) refers to "any South Carolina resident" and gives no age. Adulthood is 18, so that is the practical starting point. If your situation is close to that line, the Family Court clerk in your county can confirm how the court applies it.

What this means for a stepparent

• Adult status: You need to be an adult. Beyond that, the statute lists no age number for the adopting stepparent.
• Residency: South Carolina sets no minimum residency period (S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A)). The adoption is filed in the Family Court.
• The child's age: A "child" under the adoption chapter is someone under 18. If the child is 14 or older, the child's own consent is part of the process (S.C. Code § 63-9-310).
• Home study: South Carolina waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1)).
• If the other parent isn't involved: Abandonment is tied to a 6-month period (S.C. Code § 63-7-2570). Whether your facts meet it, or whether the case is contested, is a question for the Family Court clerk or an attorney.

If you are asking about adopting an adult

South Carolina allows one adult to adopt another. S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1120 requires the adoption to be by "another adult person." It sets no relationship, prior-relationship or age-gap condition. The petition is filed in the Family Court of the county where the adoptive parents live. The person being adopted (or that person's guardian) must consent in writing, and so must the spouse of a sole adoptive parent. A hearing is required, and the court must find the adoption is in the best interests of the persons involved. A home study is not required by statute, though the court may make "those investigations as the court considers advisable." Adult adoptions typically take about 4-8 weeks.

Timeline and cost

A stepparent adoption in South Carolina typically takes about 3-6 months. Court filing fees run about $150-$350, and the total cost is typically under $1,000. Hiring an attorney for the whole process often runs $3,000-$5,000+.

What the statute does not spell out

If you are asking about a particular age gap between you and the child, or whether your age could matter in your case, the statute text we reviewed doesn't give a number for that. Please check with the Family Court clerk in your county or an attorney. Your facts matter there.

How we help

StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. We have helped 942 South Carolina families, and 34,000+ families nationwide since 2001. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child (or for one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee.