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

It may well be possible, but not because of a set time period. Washington has no fixed number of months for abandonment. Under RCW § 26.33.120, abandonment depends on the biological parent's overall conduct, so more than a year without seeing your child is an important fact, but it is not automatically decisive on its own.

What the court looks at. Because the focus is on the whole picture, your child's other parent's conduct over time matters. That can include visits, calls, messages, cards, and whether support has been paid. Sporadic child support does not by itself rule out an abandonment finding if the parent hasn't kept up meaningful contact with your child. It helps to write down a clear timeline of what contact, if any, has happened and who initiated it.

If the parent objects or can't be found. Whether abandonment is established in a contested case, or when a parent's whereabouts are unknown, depends on the specific facts. For that issue, ask the Superior Court clerk in your county or an attorney who handles Washington adoptions.

Other Washington basics that apply to you:

• Court: Your petition is filed in the Superior Court. Washington has 39 counties, and the clerk in yours can explain local filing steps.
• Residency: Washington sets no minimum residency period (RCW 26.33.030).
• Your child's consent: If your child is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (RCW § 26.33.160).
• Home study: Home study rules are in RCW 26.33.220. Whether one is required in your situation is something the clerk can confirm for your county.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Washington typically take about 3-6 months.
• Cost: Court filing fees typically run $200-$500, and the total is typically under $1,000. Hiring an attorney for the whole process commonly costs $3,000-$5,000+.

What to do next.

• Gather anything that shows the history of contact and support, such as messages, dates, and records.
• Call the Superior Court clerk in your county to confirm local forms, fees, and home study expectations.
• If the other parent is likely to contest, or you aren't sure where they are, talk with an attorney about that spec