What is the residency requirement for adoption in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has no minimum residency period for a stepparent adoption, so you do not have to live in the state for a set number of months before you file (RSA 170-B:15, I). If you recently moved, you are not waiting out a residency clock.

Where you file. Stepparent adoption petitions go to the Circuit Court. New Hampshire has 10 counties, and the clerk's office in your county can tell you which location handles your case, the current filing fee, and any local filing details.

Why residency isn't the hard part. Since no waiting period applies, the timing of your case usually depends on other steps:

• Child's consent: A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption (RSA 170-B:3, I).
• The other parent: If the child's other legal parent will not consent, the situation depends on the facts. New Hampshire sets a 6-month period relating to abandonment (RSA § 170-C:5), and termination of parental rights is handled as a separate step. Because these cases turn on the specific circumstances, check with the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about your own situation.
• Home study: Home studies are waived for stepparent adoptions in New Hampshire (RSA § 170-B:18).

How long it takes. A stepparent adoption in New Hampshire typically takes 3-6 months. The pace depends on how quickly your paperwork is complete and the court's schedule, not on how long you have lived in the state.

A practical tip. Even though there is no residency minimum, gather proof of your current address and your child's, along with your marriage certificate and the child's birth certificate. The clerk may ask for them, and having them ready keeps things moving.

What to confirm with the clerk.

• Which court location serves your county
• The current filing fee
• Whether the court wants any additional local forms
• How hearings are scheduled in your county

How we help. StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child (or for one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 114 New Hampshire families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.