What are the adoption laws in Washington?

Washington stepparent adoptions are governed by the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 26.33, and they are handled by the Superior Court in your county (Washington has 39 counties). Here is how the main rules work.

Where you file: Your petition goes to the Superior Court. For adult adoptions, venue is the Superior Court of the county where the petitioner lives or the adoptee is domiciled (RCW 26.33.030).

Residency: Washington has no minimum residency period (RCW 26.33.030).

Who can adopt: Any legally competent person who is 18 or older may be an adoptive parent (RCW 26.33.140(2)). Washington doesn't specify a minimum length of marriage for stepparent adoption. Washington also requires criminal background checks for adoptive parents.

Consent:

• A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (RCW § 26.33.160).
• Consent from the other legal parent is a central question in stepparent cases. If that parent isn't involved, abandonment may be relevant (RCW § 26.33.120).
• Washington sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct, not a single factor such as the timing or amount of child support.
• Whether abandonment applies to your situation depends on your specific facts. For a contested case or an unknown parent, ask the Superior Court clerk or an attorney.

Home study: The home study rules are in RCW 26.33.220. Washington allows courts to waive the home study for stepparent adoptions in some circumstances, such as when the child has been living with the stepparent. Ask your county clerk whether it applies to you.

Adult adoption: Washington permits it. Any person may be adopted regardless of age or residence (RCW 26.33.140). The adoptee must consent, and if the petitioner is married, the spouse must join the petition (RCW 26.33.150(4)). The home study reports are not required when the adoptee is 18 or older (RCW 26.33.220). The court sets a hearing with notice to anyone whose consent is required unless they waive notice in writing, and the decree is entered after that hearing (RCW 26.33.240).

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

Cost: Court filing fees typically run $200-$500, and the total cost is typically under $1,000 when you prepare the paperwork yourself. Hiring an attorney usually costs $3,000-$5,000+.

Records: The Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics is the state's vital records agency. Your court clerk can tell you how to handle records after the decree.

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.