Home study
Waived
Arkansas does not require a home study in a stepparent adoption, so there is no social worker visit to schedule.
A.C.A. § 9-9-212
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$349
Complete Arkansas package
814 Arkansas families helped since 2001
Make Your Arkansas Family Official.Arkansas stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every document, guide you through each step, and stay with your Arkansas family until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Arkansas package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Arkansas sets no minimum number of months you must live in the state before you file.
A.C.A. § 9-9-205(a)Child's consent
Required at 12
A child who has reached age 12 signs a consent to the adoption. Younger children do not sign.
A.C.A. § 9-9-206Abandonment period
12 months
When a parent has abandoned the child for 12 months, the adoption can still move forward without that parent.
A.C.A. § 9-9-207
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
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Why Arkansas families choose us
We make your Arkansas 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 Arkansas Circuit Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
814 Arkansas families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Arkansas courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Arkansas 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 Arkansas AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Circuit Court. About 3-6 months.
Arkansas handles stepparent adoption in the Circuit Court, and termination of the other parent's rights is part of the same case, not a separate one.
Day 1 · One short questionnaireTell us about your family
Day 1 · One short questionnaire
Tell us about your family
You answer simple questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We turn your answers into the Arkansas forms. There is no residency waiting period to check.
A.C.A. § 9-9-205(a)Within 24-48 hours · FilingFile with your county Circuit Court
Within 24-48 hours · Filing
File with your county Circuit Court
Your documents arrive ready to sign, with filing instructions for the Circuit Court clerk in your Arkansas county. The petition goes to the probate division of the Circuit Court, or the juvenile division when it is hearing adoption cases. Arkansas waives the home study, so nothing else holds up filing.
A.C.A. § 9-9-212After filing · Notice or consentThe other parent signs or is notified
After filing · Notice or consent
The other parent signs or is notified
If the other parent will sign, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice, and publication where needed. These are routine steps, and most families finish without the other parent's consent.
A.C.A. § 9-9-207Within 3-6 months · DecreeDecree and new birth certificate
Within 3-6 months · Decree
Decree and new birth certificate
The Circuit Court judge signs the adoption decree. We include the request for a new birth certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records.
Arkansas Department of Health Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Arkansas courts want a child to have a stable 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 route is simple: they sign a written consent, and you file it with your petition. It is the quickest path, but it is not the only one.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- You file it with your Circuit Court petition
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not or cannot sign, Arkansas law gives the court a clear ground to move ahead.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for 12 months does not have to consent
- The court can approve the adoption without that parent's signature
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Arkansas, termination is handled inside the same adoption case, so you do not file a separate proceeding.
A.C.A. § 9-9-207Arkansas has no residency waiting period and no home study for stepparent adoptions, so your family can start right now.
One flat price for your Arkansas adoption papers
An Arkansas family pays $349 for the complete package, plus $99 for each additional child, along with the clerk's filing fee.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What families tell us
★★★★★
My experience with your company has been a pleasant one. They have worked with me, and have went as far as making changes for my forms 8 months later. They are a very pleasant group of people and very professional! So glad I choose them!!
★★★★★
WOW that was fast! THANK YOU! BTW -- my husband adopted my daughter on 8/23/08. The process was smooth and flawless thanks to your detailed adoption packet and instructions. THANK YOU for making our family complete. Wishing you the best.
★★★★★
Just wanted to let you know that our adoption was finalized today! We never could have afforded an attorney, and your service made this possible for us. Everything went smoothly in court, and the judge even asked where we had gotten our paperwork because it was so well done. I’ll be recommending you to anyone I know looking to complete an adoption!
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Arkansas packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption of a stepchild, prepared for the Arkansas Circuit Court
- Consent of the other parent, or the notice and termination papers under A.C.A. § 9-9-207
- Consent of the child for a child who has reached age 12
- No home study paperwork needed, because Arkansas waives the home study under A.C.A. § 9-9-212
- Filing instructions for the Circuit Court clerk in your Arkansas county
- Final decree of adoption and the new birth certificate request for the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Arkansas is allowed
Arkansas law says any individual may be adopted, and an adult is anyone who is not a minor. The adult and the adult's spouse must each sign a written consent. The petition is filed in the Circuit Court's probate division, or its juvenile division when it hears adoptions, in the county where you or the adult lives or is in military service. A hearing is required, and the home study is waived unless the court orders one. Adult cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
WhoAny individual may be adopted
ConsentAdult and spouse sign
Home studyWaived unless court orders
HearingBoth appear unless excused for good cause
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Arkansas 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 Arkansas adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Arkansas courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 75 counties
Filed in your own Arkansas county
Arkansas has 75 counties, and each one has a Circuit Court that hears adoption cases. From Little Rock to Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale and Jonesboro, we prepare your papers for your local clerk.
Little RockFort SmithFayettevilleSpringdaleJonesboro+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Arkansas 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.
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What Arkansas families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Arkansas?
You file a petition in the Circuit Court in your county, and the other parent either consents or is given notice. Arkansas has no residency waiting period, and the home study is waived. We have helped 814 Arkansas families, and most stepparent cases finish in about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas law says any individual may be adopted (A.C.A. § 9-9-203). The adult and the adult's spouse sign a written consent, and a hearing is required. You both appear unless the court excuses either of you for good cause. Adult cases often take about 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Arkansas?
Our complete Arkansas package is $349, and each additional child is $99. The Circuit Court clerk in your county sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. Because Arkansas waives the home study, there is no home study fee.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or cannot be found in Arkansas?
Your adoption can still go forward. A parent who has abandoned the child for 12 months does not have to consent (A.C.A. § 9-9-207). In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. We prepare the notice and any publication for you.
Does Arkansas require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No. Arkansas waives the home study for a stepparent adoption (A.C.A. § 9-9-212), so no social worker visits your home. We prepare the documents the Circuit Court asks for.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Arkansas?
A child who has reached age 12 must sign a consent (A.C.A. § 9-9-206). A younger child does not sign. We prepare the child's consent form for you when it applies.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Arkansas?
The other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due depends on Arkansas law.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Arkansas?
Yes. After the judge signs the decree, a new birth certificate is requested from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. We include the request form in your packet.
Go deeper on Arkansas adoption
Every guide is written from Arkansas law.
How old do you have to be to adopt in Arkansas?How do I adopt an adult in Arkansas?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Arkansas?How much does adult adoption cost in Arkansas?What are Arkansas's adoption laws?
All Arkansas adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Arkansas?
Join the 814 Arkansas families we have helped, and let us get your court-ready documents to you in 24-48 hours.
Start Your Arkansas Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST