What counts as abandonment for adoption purposes in Washington?

In Washington, abandonment for adoption purposes has no set number of months. Under RCW § 26.33.120, it depends on the other parent's overall conduct toward the child, so there is no countdown clock you can point to.

What the court looks at: The Superior Court considers the whole picture of the parent's relationship with the child, not a single factor. Questions it may weigh include:

• How involved the parent has been in the child's life over time
• Whether the parent has kept up meaningful contact with the child
• Whether the parent has acted like a parent in practice, not just on paper

Years of no involvement: If the other parent has been absent for years and never formally gave up their rights, an abandonment finding is typically supported. You do not need a signed relinquishment from them for the court to consider abandonment.

Child support doesn't settle it: Sporadic child support payments do not prevent an abandonment finding when the parent has not maintained meaningful contact with the child. Washington courts look at the overall relationship, not just financial contributions. The same logic works in reverse: a missed payment alone does not make a case.

No separate termination case: In Washington, termination of the other parent's rights is not handled as a separate proceeding. The abandonment question is raised within your stepparent adoption in Superior Court.

What to expect on timing and cost:

• Stepparent adoptions in Washington typically take 3-6 months.
• Court filing fees generally run $200-$500.
• Total out-of-pocket cost is typically under $1,000 when you file on your own, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ when hiring an attorney.

When to get individual guidance: Whether a particular parent's conduct amounts to abandonment depends on your family's facts. If the other parent is likely to contest the adoption, if their history is mixed (some visits, some gaps), or if you don't know where they are, talk with an attorney about that specific issue. The Superior Court clerk in your county can answer questions about local procedure and what the court will want to see.

Why families file anyway: Washington courts are very supportive of stepparent adoptions because they give children stability and legal protection. Judges routinely approve adoptions that are in the child's best interest.

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 for one adult adoptee, and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 1104 Washington families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.