Illinois stepparent adoption is governed by Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 ILCS 50, and it is handled in the Circuit Court in your county. Illinois has 102 counties, each with its own Circuit Court. Here are the key points for a stepparent adoption.
Where you file: The Circuit Court in your county. Local forms and procedures can vary from county to county, so the clerk's office is the best place to confirm local details.
Residency: There is no residency waiting period for a stepparent adoption in Illinois (750 ILCS 50/2). The residency rule does not apply to a related child.
Child's consent: A child who is 14 or older has a consent role in the adoption (750 ILCS 50/12).
Abandonment: The law refers to a 12-month period in abandonment situations (750 ILCS 50/1). Whether this applies to your family depends on your facts, so ask the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.
Home study: Illinois does not require a home study for most stepparent adoptions (750 ILCS 50/6). That usually makes the process simpler.
The other parent's rights: Illinois handles this within the adoption proceeding, so you do not file a separate termination case. If the other parent cannot be located, Illinois has procedures for that situation. Contested cases and unknown-parent cases depend heavily on individual facts, so talk to the court clerk or an attorney about those.
Adult adoption: Illinois allows an adult to be adopted with the adult child's consent.
Timeline: A stepparent adoption of a minor typically takes 3-6 months. An adult adoption typically takes 4-8 weeks.
Cost: Court filing fees range from $200 to $500. The total typical cost when you prepare and file the paperwork yourself is under $565. Hiring an attorney for the same case commonly runs $3,000-$5,000+.
Birth records: After an adoption, questions about updating records go through the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records. The court clerk can tell you what to bring and what to expect.
Why families do it: Adoption can bring:
- Inheritance rights
- Medical decision-making authority for the adopting stepparent
- Social Security and insurance benefits eligibility
- Legal recognition of your family
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. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child (or for one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child, and we back it with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 1101 Illinois families, and 34,000+ families nationwide since 2001.
Stepparent adoption in Illinois at a glance
- Court
- Circuit Court
- Residency before filing
- No residency period for a stepparent adoption (the 6-month rule does not apply to a related child)
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$500
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Illinois families we've helped
- 1,101
Adoption document specialists · 25+ years of experience · 34,000+ families helped.
Page layout updated . Individual answers have different research histories. This is general information; court requirements and individual circumstances can differ. Document preparation service, not a law firm.
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