What are New Hampshire's adoption laws?

New Hampshire adoption, including stepparent adoption, is governed by New Hampshire Revised Statutes Chapter 170-B, and cases are handled through the Circuit Court in your county. Here are the main points for a stepparent adoption.

Who can adopt: Adopters must be adults, meaning 18 or older (RSA 170-B:4). If you are wondering about an age difference between you and the person being adopted, the Circuit Court clerk in your county can confirm whether any applies.

Residency: New Hampshire has no minimum residency period for adoption petitions (RSA 170-B:15, I). You do not have to wait out a set number of months before filing.

Court: The Circuit Court. New Hampshire has 10 counties, and filing details can vary by county, so your clerk's office is the best place to confirm local filing procedures and the current filing fee.

Child's consent: A child who is 14 or older must give consent (RSA 170-B:3, I). The court can decide that requiring it is not in the child's best interests.

Abandonment: New Hampshire sets a 6-month abandonment period (RSA § 170-C:5). It can matter if a parent's rights are at issue. Whether it applies to your family depends on your facts, so if a parent is absent, unknown, or likely to object, talk with an attorney or the Circuit Court clerk about your specific situation.

Ending a parent's rights: Termination of a parent's rights is handled through a separate petition rather than automatically as part of the adoption. Contested situations are fact-specific and are worth discussing with an attorney.

Home study: For stepparent adoptions, the home study is typically waived (RSA § 170-B:18). The court makes the final decision in your case.

Timeline: A stepparent adoption of a minor typically takes 3-6 months. An adult adoption typically takes 4-8 weeks.

Adult adoption: New Hampshire permits adopting an adult, meaning anyone 18 or older. Some key points:

• The person being adopted, if 14 or older, must give written assent signed in the presence of the court, unless the court finds that requiring it is not in their best interests.
• If the adoptee is married, their spouse must also assent, though the court may waive this for good cause.
• A hearing is required, and the petitioner and adoptee must appear unless excused for good cause.
• A home study is not mandatory, though the court may order an assessment.
• If the required assents are in place and the adoption is in the adoptee's best interests, the court may issue a final decree at the end of the hearing.

After the adoption: For questions about updated birth records, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration can explain its process.

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.