What is an abandonment affidavit for adoption in Washington?

An abandonment affidavit in Washington is a sworn written statement that describes how the other biological parent has been absent from your child's life. It supports a request to the Superior Court to find abandonment, so the adoption can go forward without that parent's consent.

What the court looks at: Washington sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct, and the relevant statute is RCW § 26.33.120. The affidavit therefore needs to give a clear picture of the whole situation, not just a count of months.

What a strong affidavit usually covers:

• The date and circumstances of the last contact between the other parent and your child
• What the absence has looked like in practice, such as visits, calls, cards or other communication, or the lack of them
• Whether the other parent has provided financial support, and how consistently
• Any efforts you or your spouse made to keep the other parent involved
• Your own firsthand account of the parent's involvement over time

Child support doesn't settle the question. If the other parent has paid support sporadically, you can still raise abandonment. Washington courts look at the overall relationship, not just financial contributions. Payments alone do not prevent an abandonment finding when the parent has not maintained meaningful contact with the child.

Years of non-involvement: If the other parent has been out of the picture for years but never formally gave up their rights, abandonment is the usual route to look at. Whether the facts support it is for the Superior Court to decide.

Be specific and honest. Details and dates carry more weight than general statements such as "he was never around." Include only what you can truthfully swear to. The court reads the affidavit as an account of real events, so accuracy matters more than a polished tone.

When your situation is less clear: Some situations depend heavily on the facts. These include a parent who contests the adoption, a parent whose whereabouts are unknown, and a case where the other parent had some recent contact. For questions like these, ask the Superior Court clerk in your county about local procedure, or talk with an adoption attorney about your specific facts.

Where it fits in the process: The affidavit is one part of your court filing, which goes to the Superior Court in your county. Court filing fees typically fall in the $200-$500 range, and stepparent adoptions in Washington typically take 3-6 months. The Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics handles vital records, which may come up when you gather your child's documents. The statutes governing adoption are in Revised Code of Washington Chapter 26.33.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online about your family, including the other parent's absence, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county, abandonment affidavit included. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and you file them yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child, or for one adult adoptee, and $99 for each additional child. We offer a 100% court acceptance guarantee, and we have helped 1104 Washington families, among more than 34,000 nationally since 2001.