The biological father agrees to the adoption — what's the process in Washington?

When the biological father agrees, the process in Washington is a petition filed in your county's Superior Court, supported by his written consent, followed by the court's review and a finalization hearing. His agreement keeps the case straightforward. Your case doesn't depend on proving abandonment, which in Washington has no fixed number of months and turns on a parent's overall conduct (RCW § 26.33.120).

How the process generally runs:

• Gather your information. You provide details about your family, the child, and the father.
• Prepare the paperwork. This includes the adoption petition, the father's consent, and the other filings your county's Superior Court expects.
• Get the father's consent signed. The Superior Court clerk in your county can confirm exactly how the consent must be signed and whether any waiting or revocation period applies.
• File with the Superior Court. Washington has 39 counties, and you file in yours. There is no minimum residency period to wait out (RCW 26.33.030).
• Complete the required reviews. Washington requires criminal background checks for adoptive parents. Home study requirements (RCW 26.33.220) are not automatically waived, so ask the clerk whether the court will waive or modify them in your situation.
• Attend the finalization hearing. The judge reviews the case and, if it is in the child's best interest, finalizes the adoption.

Your child's consent: If your child is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (RCW § 26.33.160). Younger children don't have a consent requirement under the data we work from.

How long it takes: Stepparent adoptions in Washington typically take about 3-6 months. Your timing will depend on how quickly the consent is signed, how soon your reviews are done, and the court's calendar.

What it costs: Court filing fees typically run $200-$500 depending on the county, and the total cost of a stepparent adoption done without an attorney is typically under $1,000. Attorney representation commonly costs $3,000-$5,000 or more.

When to get extra help: Everything above assumes the father stays on board from start to finish. If he changes his mind, can't be located, or if there are other parents or legal complications, the outcome depends on your specific facts. Talk with the Superior Court clerk or a Washington family law attorney about that situation.

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, including the father's consent. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and you file them yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child (or one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child, backed by a 100% court acceptance guarantee.