The biological parent hasn't seen my child in over a year. Can I adopt in Alaska?

Yes, very likely. Alaska sets an abandonment period of six months (Alaska Stat. § 25.23.050(a)(1)-(2)), so a biological parent who hasn't seen your child in over a year is past that length of time. Whether the court finds abandonment in your case depends on your facts, and that is the judge's decision.

What the six-month period means for you. Time without contact is the starting point, not the whole picture. The court looks at the circumstances in your family. If you aren't sure the absence fits, or if the other parent might contest the adoption, talk to an attorney or the Superior Court clerk in your area about that specific issue.

Where you file. Stepparent adoptions in Alaska go through the Superior Court. The clerk can tell you the current filing fee and local filing details.

Other Alaska basics that apply to you:

• Residency: Alaska has no minimum residency period for adoption.
• Termination: Alaska does not treat termination of parental rights as a separate case from the adoption.
• Your child's consent: If your child is 10 or older, their consent is part of the process (Alaska Stat. § 25.23.040).
• Home study: It is waived (Alaska Stat. § 25.23.100). Confirm with the clerk whether the judge in your case wants anything additional.
• Timeline: A stepparent adoption in Alaska typically takes about 3-6 months.

How to prepare. It helps to gather what shows the timeline: when the biological parent last saw your child, any messages or calls since then (or the lack of them), and any court orders involving custody or support. Having these in order lets you answer questions accurately and lets the court see the full picture. Only the court can decide how those facts are weighed, so if there is anything complicated, such as recent contact attempts or a disagreement about why contact stopped, get advice on that point before filing.

If you can't find the other parent. Not knowing where the biological parent is can change what notice is needed. Ask the Superior Court clerk or an attorney how that works in Alaska, because it depends on your specific 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. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and our 100% court acceptance guarantee applies. We've helped 126 Alaska families, and more than 34,000 families nationwide since 2001.