What are Pennsylvania's adoption laws?

Pennsylvania's adoption laws are found in Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23, Part III, and stepparent adoptions are handled in the Orphans' Court of your county. Here are the main points for a family considering a stepparent adoption.

Where you file: Pennsylvania has 67 counties, and each has its own Orphans' Court. Local forms and procedures can differ, so the clerk in your county is the best contact for county-specific questions.

Residency: Pennsylvania sets no minimum residency period (23 Pa.C.S. § 2302). You do not have to live in the state for a set number of months before filing.

Child's consent: A child who is 12 or older must consent to the adoption (23 Pa.C.S. § 2711).

The other parent: Pennsylvania requires the other biological parent's consent, or proper notice to that parent. If a parent has abandoned the child, the law looks at a period of 6 months (23 Pa.C.S. § 2511). Some points to know:

• Paying child support does not by itself prevent an abandonment finding. Courts look at the whole relationship, not only money.
• If abandonment is proven, the court can still grant the adoption over the parent's objection. Contested cases depend heavily on the facts, so talk with an attorney about your situation.
• If you cannot locate the other parent, Pennsylvania has procedures for giving notice by publication. Ask the Orphans' Court clerk or an attorney how that works in your case.
• Termination of the other parent's rights is not a separate filing in the process we prepare.

Home study: For stepparent adoptions, the home study is waived (23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c); § 2535(a)).

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

Cost: Court filing fees run about $200-$500, and the typical total cost is under $550. Hiring an attorney to handle the whole process commonly runs $3,000-$5,000+.

Who can adopt: Pennsylvania recognizes all valid marriages for stepparent adoption purposes, so same-sex married couples can adopt.

Adult adoption: Adult adoption is permitted in Pennsylvania. The statute says any individual may be adopted "regardless of his age or residence" (23 Pa.C.S. 2311). The adoptee must consent, and a court hearing is required. Parents' consent is required only when the adoptee is under 18. A home study is not required for adults.

Why the details matter: Adoption creates a legal parent-child relationship. It also establishes inheritance rights, medical decision-making authority, and access to Social Security and insurance benefits. For many children it also brings a deep sense of security.

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 price is $349 for the first child (or one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.