What is the abandonment period for stepparent adoption?

The abandonment period — how long the biological parent must have had no meaningful contact with the child — varies by state:

Most common: 12 months (1 year)

This applies in the majority of states.

Shorter periods:

• Pennsylvania: 90 days (3 months)
• Alabama: 6 months
• South Carolina: 6 months
• Several other states have 6-month periods

What counts as "no meaningful contact":

• No visits with the child
• No phone calls to the child
• No letters or communication with the child
• No participation in the child's life

What does NOT negate abandonment:

• Paying child support (abandonment is about the relationship, not money)
• Occasional "token" contact (one brief call in a year)
• Sending a birthday card once

Over 80% of our 34,000+ completed adoptions were based on abandonment. Courts handle this routinely and are very familiar with the pattern of an absent biological parent.

Specify your state in the questionnaire and we'll prepare the correct abandonment documentation for your jurisdiction.