Residency
No waiting period
Alabama sets no minimum residency months for the stepparent adoption petition, so you can start now.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-5(e)(3)
Start today
$349
Complete Alabama package
811 Alabama families helped since 2001
Make Your Alabama Family Official.Alabama stepparent and adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the Probate Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file, and stay with your Alabama family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Alabama package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Child's consent
Age 14 and up
A child who is 14 or older must give consent to the adoption.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-7(a)(1)Abandonment period
Four months
Four months of abandonment is the period Alabama looks to when the other parent is absent.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-9(a)(1), (a)(4)Home study
Required in Alabama
Alabama does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions, so we prepare you for it.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-26(2)
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Alabama families choose us
We make your Alabama adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Alabama Probate Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
811 Alabama families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Alabama courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Alabama adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Alabama AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Probate Court. About 3-6 months.
Alabama handles stepparent adoptions in the Probate Court of your county, and we prepare each step so the filing goes in clean.
Day one · A short questionnaireTell us about your family
Day one · A short questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer our simple questionnaire about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. Your Alabama documents are ready in 24-48 hours.
Alabama Code Title 26, Chapter 10ARight after · FilingFile with your county Probate Court
Right after · Filing
File with your county Probate Court
You file the petition in the Probate Court in your Alabama county. Alabama sets no residency waiting period for the stepparent, and we give you filing instructions for your county.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-5(e)(3)While your case moves · Other parentThe other parent signs, or notice is given
While your case moves · Other parent
The other parent signs, or notice is given
If the other parent will sign, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers. Both routes are routine for us.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-9(a)(1), (a)(4)The finish · About 3-6 monthsDecree and new birth certificate
The finish · About 3-6 months
Decree and new birth certificate
The Probate Court reviews your case, and the judge signs the final decree. We then prepare your request to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics for the new birth certificate.
Alabama Center for Health StatisticsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the easiest route is a written consent that we prepare for the Alabama Probate Court. It keeps your case simple and fast.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it and returns it
- A child 14 or older signs a consent too
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Alabama's abandonment rules give the court a path forward.
- Alabama looks to a four-month abandonment period
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that period does not hold a veto over the adoption
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it. In Alabama, termination is not a separate case. It is handled as part of the same adoption case.
Ala. Code § 26-10E-9(a)(1), (a)(4)When the other parent has abandoned the child for four months, Alabama Probate Courts can approve a stepparent adoption without that parent's signature. We prepare every page the court needs.
One flat price for your Alabama adoption papers
An Alabama family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, along with the filing fee the clerk sets.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Alabama families tell us
★★★★★
Just a quick note to say thanks for all your help. I was scared at the beginning, but your customer service department was great and made the process so easy for me. I will recommend you to anyone who needs this service
★★★★★
I would just like to say thank you, our adoption was finalized yesterday with no issues. This entire process has been easy and we couldn't have done it without your help. The price was within our budget when using a lawyer would never be. Even the judge commented on how thorough our paperwork was!
★★★★★
Great News!! Our adoption was granted last week. Thank you for your tremendous support throughout this process and helping to make our dreams come true.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Alabama packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption for the Alabama Probate Court
- Other parent's consent, or notice and abandonment papers if the parent will not sign
- Consent form for a child 14 or older
- Home study forms and instructions for Alabama's requirements
- Notice, hearing paperwork and filing instructions for your county Probate Court
- Final decree and new birth certificate request to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Alabama: new law, simple path
Alabama's Adult Adoption Code took effect January 1, 2024. An adult stepchild or former stepchild by marriage can be adopted with their own written consent. If the adoptee is legally competent, only the adoptee's sworn written consent is required, not the biological parents'. The petition is filed in the Probate Court, which holds a hearing where each petitioner and the adoptee appear in person. We deliver your adult documents in 24-48 hours, and the case typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Who qualifiesStepchildren and former stepchildren
ConsentAdoptee's sworn written consent
Where filedAlabama Probate Court
HearingPetitioner and adoptee appear in person
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Alabama instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Alabama adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Alabama courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 67 counties
All 67 Alabama counties, one Probate Court route
Alabama has 67 counties, and your adoption is filed in the Probate Court in your county. We prepare your papers for your county, whether you live near Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery or Tuscaloosa.
BirminghamHuntsvilleMobileMontgomeryTuscaloosa+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Alabama stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Alabama families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Alabama?
You file a petition in the Probate Court in your Alabama county under Alabama Code Title 26, Chapter 10A. Alabama sets no residency waiting period for the stepparent (Ala. Code § 26-10E-5(e)(3)). We prepare your documents in 24-48 hours, and a stepparent adoption typically takes about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama's Adult Adoption Code allows the adoption of a stepchild or former stepchild by marriage who is an adult and consents in writing (Ala. Code § 26-10F-3). The biological parents' consent is not required. A hearing is held. We deliver your documents in 24-48 hours, and the case typically takes 2-4 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Alabama?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The Probate Court clerk in your county sets the filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. The cost of the home study varies.
What if the other parent refuses or can't be found in Alabama?
You can still adopt. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Alabama looks to a four-month abandonment period (Ala. Code § 26-10E-9(a)(1), (a)(4)), and we prepare the notice. Termination is handled in the same case.
Does Alabama require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
Alabama does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions (Ala. Code § 26-10E-26(2)). We prepare the forms and tell you what to expect. For an adult adoption, no investigation is required unless the court orders one.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Alabama?
A child who is 14 or older must give consent (Ala. Code § 26-10E-7(a)(1)). We include the consent form in your packet. The requirement starts at age 14.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Alabama?
The other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that is already past due depends on Alabama law.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Alabama?
Yes. After the Probate Court signs the final decree, we prepare your request to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics.
Go deeper on Alabama adoption
Every guide is written from Alabama law.
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Alabama?How do I adopt an adult in Alabama?How old do you have to be to adopt in Alabama?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Alabama?How much does adult adoption cost in Alabama?What are Alabama's adoption laws?
All Alabama adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Alabama?
Join the 811 Alabama families we have helped, and let us prepare your Probate Court papers today.
Start Your Alabama Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST