My teenager wants to be adopted — how do we handle their consent in Idaho?

Short answer: In Idaho, a child who is 12 or older has to give consent to the adoption (Idaho Code § 16-1504), so your teenager's own "yes" is a formal part of the case, not just a nice extra.

What this means for your teen

• Because your teen is past the consent age of 12, their consent is part of the paperwork filed with the Magistrate Court in your county.
• A teen who is eager to be adopted makes this step simple. Their signed consent shows the court that the adoption is what they want.
• Your teen should understand what adoption means before signing. Talk it through together, including any questions about their relationship with their other parent.
• If your teen has turned 18, they would be adopted as an adult. Idaho's listed timeline for adult adoption is 4-8 weeks, compared with 3-6 months for stepparent adoption of a minor.

Consent from others is a separate piece

Your teen's consent does not stand alone. The paperwork also includes the spouse's consent to the adoption, and either consent forms from the other legal parent or a petition to terminate that parent's rights. In Idaho, termination is handled as a separate step. One ground the law recognizes is abandonment, which involves a 12-month period (Idaho Code § 16-2005). Whether it applies depends on your family's facts. If the other parent is unknown, unreachable, or likely to object, ask the Magistrate Court clerk in your county or an attorney about your specific situation.

Hearing and name questions

Court practices, such as whether the judge speaks with your teen directly at the hearing, can vary. Ask the clerk in your county what to expect so you can prepare your teen. The clerk can also tell you how a name change is handled, and which steps follow for records through the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.

Other Idaho basics that apply

• Court: Your petition is filed in the Magistrate Court of your county.
• Residency: Idaho's residency period is 6 months (Idaho Code § 16-1506(1)).
• Home study: Idaho waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (Idaho Code § 16-1506).
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions typically take 3-6 months.
• Cost: Court filing fees typically run $150-$250. Total cost is typically under $1,000 when you file on your own, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ for hiring an attorney.

Ways to involve your teen

Let them read the forms with you, ask their own questions, and help plan how to mark the day.