West Virginia adoption is governed by West Virginia Code Chapter 48, Article 22. Here are the key provisions:
Residency: 0 months (W. Va. Code § 48-22-201)
Court: Circuit Court
Child Consent: Age 12+ (W. Va. Code § 48-22-301)
Abandonment: 6 months no contact (W. Va. Code § 48-22-306)
Termination: Can be included in adoption proceeding
Home Study: Typically waived for stepparents (W. Va. Code § 48-22-501)
Timeline: Minor: 3-6 months | Adult: 4-8 weeks
West Virginia has 55 counties, each with its own Circuit Court. Our documents are customized for your specific county's requirements.
We've helped 252+ families in West Virginia navigate these laws successfully.
Stepparent adoption in West Virginia at a glance
- Court
- Circuit Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$400
- Child must consent at age
- 12
- Home study
- May be required
- West Virginia families we've helped
- 252
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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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