What if the biological parent is homeless and can't be located for adoption in New Jersey?

A parent being homeless does not prevent the adoption. If you cannot locate the biological parent, New Jersey law provides a solution: service by publication.

How service by publication works:

1. You demonstrate to the Superior Court that you have made a diligent effort to locate the parent (last known address, employer, relatives, social media, etc.)
2. The court grants permission to serve by publication
3. A legal notice is published in a newspaper in the area where the parent was last known to live
4. The parent has a set period to respond after publication
5. If they don't respond (they almost never do), the adoption proceeds

Cost of publication: $50–$150 for the newspaper notice

Additional timeline: Adds about 4–6 weeks

What qualifies as "diligent effort":

• Checked the last known address
• Checked with relatives or mutual contacts
• Searched public records or social media
• You do NOT need to hire a private investigator

In our experience over 25+ years and 34,000+ adoptions: Parents served by publication virtually never respond. The adoption proceeds smoothly.

We include all documents needed for service by publication in your $349 package. Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register.