My teenager doesn't want to be adopted — can I still adopt them in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, a teenager who is 12 or older has a say in their own adoption: the child consent age is 12 under A.C.A. § 9-9-206. So if your teen firmly refuses, that is a real obstacle to a stepparent adoption. Whether there are any exceptions depends on the facts of your case, so ask the Circuit Court clerk in your county or an attorney about your situation.

Why teens push back:

• Loyalty: they may worry that adoption betrays their other parent.
• Identity: their name and family history feel like part of who they are.
• Grief: they may still be processing losses from the past.
• Change: even good changes can feel threatening at that age.
• Independence: pushing back on adult decisions is a normal part of the teen years.

What you can do now:

• Listen first. Ask what worries them before you explain what you hope for. Often the objection is about something specific, like a name change or the other parent's feelings.
• Be honest about what adoption means. If they ask what it would change legally for their other parent, get that answer from an attorney or the court clerk instead of guessing.
• Let them have a voice. Teens often respond better when they feel part of the decision, including whether they want a different name.
• Give it time. Your relationship does not depend on a court order, and the conversation can continue for months.
• Consider family counseling. A neutral therapist can help everyone talk through the feelings without pressure.

If your teen is under 12: Arkansas's consent age is 12, so they are below it. We still recommend explaining things in terms they can understand and listening to how they feel.

Waiting until they turn 18: Arkansas allows adult adoption. Under A.C.A. § 9-9-203, "any individual may be adopted," and an adult is anyone who is not a minor, meaning 18 or older. For an adult adoption, written consent must come from the adult and the adult's spouse, if they have one. A few things differ from adopting a minor:

• Home study: it is waived unless the court directs one.
• Hearing: the court still holds one, and you and the person being adopted must attend unless the court excuses either of you for good cause.
• Court and timeline: your petition goes to the Circuit Court, and the typical timeline is 4-8 weeks. A stepparent adoption of a minor typically takes 3-6 months.
• Cost: court filing fees typically run $150-$300, and the total is typically under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ with an attorney.

Waiting can feel hard, but many families find that a teen who says no at 15 feels differently at 18 once the choice is entirely theirs.

Where legal advice matters: If the other biological parent is involved, is absent, or disagrees, those issues depend on your specific facts. Arkansas has a 12-month abandonment period in A.C.A. § 9-9-207, but whether it applies to you is a question for an attorney or the court clerk.