What are the requirements for stepparent adoption in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, a stepparent adoption is filed as a petition in the District Court, and the main requirements are that you live in Wyoming for 60 days before filing, the child's other legal parent situation is addressed, a child who is 14 or older consents, and the court decides how to handle the home study (which is waived for stepparents).

Who can file: Any adult may adopt under Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103. A petition may be filed by either spouse if the other spouse is the child's parent, which is how most stepparent adoptions begin (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(b)).

Residency: You must have lived in Wyoming for 60 days immediately before you file (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103). Wyoming sets no longer residency period.

Where you file: The petition goes to the District Court in your county. Wyoming has 23 counties, including those around Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette and Rock Springs. Each court may have its own local forms and habits, so it helps to check with the clerk.

The child's consent: A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-109).

The other parent: The child's other legal parent is an important part of any stepparent adoption. Wyoming does not set a fixed number of months for abandonment. Whether a parent has abandoned a child depends on that parent's overall conduct (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-110). If the other parent is absent, cannot be found, or disagrees with the adoption, the outcome depends on your facts. Ask the District Court clerk in your county or an attorney about your situation.

Home study: Wyoming waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-111(a)(ii)). That usually spares families a step that can take time in other kinds of adoption.

Timeline: A stepparent adoption in Wyoming typically takes 3-6 months from filing to finalization. The exact pace depends on your court's calendar and whether everything is in order when you file.

Details to confirm with the clerk: Filing fees, local forms and scheduling differ by county, so the District Court clerk where you live is the best source for current costs and procedures.

Quick checklist:

• Be an adult, married to the child's parent, and a Wyoming resident for 60 days before filing
• Prepare a petition for your county's District Court
• Get the consent of a child who is 14 or older
• Address the other parent's role, by consent or by showing abandonment based on overall conduct
• Confirm fees and local requirements with the clerk

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