What if the biological parent lives in another state — can I still adopt in Washington DC?

Yes. A biological parent living in another state doesn't change the basic path to a stepparent adoption in Washington DC, and DC sets no minimum residency period you must meet before filing (D.C. Code § 16-301(b)). The case is heard by the Superior Court, and we have helped 71 Washington DC families through the process.

What stays the same when the other parent is out of state:

• Court: Your petition goes to the Superior Court, and DC's adoption statutes (District of Columbia Code Title 16, Chapter 3) are what the court applies.
• Home study: It is waived in a stepparent adoption (D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2)), so there is no home visit to coordinate across state lines.
• Child's consent: If your child is 14 or older, the child's consent is part of the process (D.C. Code § 16-304).
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Washington DC typically take 3-6 months.

If the other parent is willing to consent: Consents must be in writing and acknowledged before an authorized officer (D.C. Code § 16-304(a)). A parent in another state will need to sign in front of an appropriate officer there. Ask the Superior Court clerk to confirm exactly what the court accepts from an out-of-state signer, such as notary details or how the signed original should be delivered.

If the other parent is not willing, or you can't reach them: This is where the facts of your situation matter most. Washington DC law refers to an abandonment period of six months in D.C. Code § 16-304, but whether it applies to you depends on your family's history, such as contact and support. The rules for notifying a parent in another state, or one whose address is unknown, are not something we can responsibly generalize. Please confirm those points with the Superior Court clerk, and consider an attorney for a contested case or a missing parent.

Questions to ask the clerk:

• What the court requires to notify a parent who lives outside DC
• What the court accepts when a parent's whereabouts are unknown
• Current filing fees and how to pay them
• Any local filing steps for your situation

Practical tips:

• Gather the other parent's full name and last known address, since you will need them for the paperwork.
• If they