Montana requires 0 months of state residency before you can file a stepparent adoption petition (Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-103). This means you (or your spouse) must have lived in Montana for at least 0 months before filing. If you recently moved to Montana, you may need to wait until you meet this requirement. The residency clock starts from when you established your home in the state — it doesn't have to be from the date you officially changed your driver's license.
Stepparent adoption in Montana at a glance
- Court
- District Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Child must consent at age
- 12
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Montana families we've helped
- 151
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