What is adult adoption?

Adult adoption is the legal process of adopting someone who is 18 years or older. It's increasingly popular as blended families seek to formalize long-standing parent-child relationships.

Key advantages over minor child adoption:

• Only the adult adoptee's consent is required — no biological parent consent needed
• No home study required
• No background check required
• No service of process on biological parents
• Faster timeline: Typically 4–8 weeks (vs. 3–6 months for minors)

Common reasons for adult adoption:

• Stepparent wants to officially adopt an adult stepchild they raised
• Creating legal inheritance rights
• Formalizing a parent-child relationship that existed for years
• Family recognition and unity

No age limit: We've helped families where the adoptee is 20, 40, or 60+ years old.

Cost: Same $349 document preparation fee. Total cost is often lower than minor adoption because fewer steps are involved.

Many families tell us adult adoption is one of the most emotional experiences of their lives.