Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Wyoming?

Wyoming's adult adoption rules turn on the adopter's history with the adult and on the adult's consent, not on a particular age. The adopter must be an adult, and the person being adopted must file a consent with the court. Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-102(b) governs who can be adopted as an adult.

Who can adopt an adult: The adopting parent must have been a stepparent, grandparent or other blood relative, foster parent or legal guardian who took part in raising the adult when the adult was a child (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-102(b)). The adopter must be an adult, described as "any adult person" in Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103. The court must also find the adopter fit and competent to be a parent. A single adult can file, a married couple who maintain their home together can file jointly, or one spouse can file if the other is the child's parent (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(b)).

Age of the adult being adopted: The adoptee needs to be an adult, meaning at least 18. Wyoming's adult adoption provisions in the data do not state a maximum age for the adoptee. No required age gap between adopter and adult was found in Wyoming's adoption statutes. If you are in an unusual situation, such as a small age difference between you, ask the District Court clerk in your county or an attorney to confirm.

Consent: The adult must consent in a filing with the court (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-102(b)) and must be served with the petition and a summons. If the adult objects, the petition is dismissed. If the adult consents, the petition "shall be granted" (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-113). No parental consent is stated for adult adoption. If anything about a biological parent's involvement concerns you, an attorney can advise on your specific facts.

Residency: The adopter must have lived in Wyoming for 60 days immediately before filing (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103). The adult being adopted may live inside or outside Wyoming.

Court and process:

• The petition is filed in District Court (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(a)).
• Adoption hearings are closed unless the court orders otherwise (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-105).
• Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-113 does not expressly require a hearing for an adult adoption.
• The home-study provision is written for a "child," so it is not addressed for adults.
• Adult adoptions typically finalize in 4-8 weeks, though your clerk can tell you about local scheduling.

Why people choose it: Families often use adult adoption to formalize a long-standing parent-child bond, such as a stepparent who raised a stepchild. Because Wyoming limits who may adopt an adult, it is worth confirming that your history fits the categories above before you file.

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 file it yourself, without an attorney. The price is $349 for one adult adoptee, and court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions.