North Carolina requires 6 months of state residency before you can file a stepparent adoption petition (N.C.G.S. § 48-2-100). This means you (or your spouse) must have lived in North Carolina for at least 6 months before filing. If you recently moved to North Carolina, 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 North Carolina at a glance
- Court
- Clerk of Superior Court
- Residency before filing
- 6 months
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $150-$300
- Child must consent at age
- 12
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- North Carolina families we've helped
- 914
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