New York requires 0 months of state residency before you can file a stepparent adoption petition (N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 110). This means you (or your spouse) must have lived in New York for at least 0 months before filing. If you recently moved to New York, 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 New York at a glance
- Court
- Family Court or Surrogate's Court
- Residency before filing
- No minimum period
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$500
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- May be required
- New York families we've helped
- 1,119
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