Vermont requires 6 months of state residency before you can file a stepparent adoption petition (15A V.S.A. § 1-102). This means you (or your spouse) must have lived in Vermont for at least 6 months before filing. If you recently moved to Vermont, 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 Vermont at a glance
- Court
- Probate Court
- Residency before filing
- 6 months
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Vermont families we've helped
- 87
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