Home study
Required
Delaware does not waive the home study for stepparents, so we build it into your plan from day one.
13 Del. C. § 912
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$349
Complete Delaware package
89 Delaware families helped since 2001
Make Your Delaware Family Official.Delaware stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Family Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file in Delaware, and stay with you by phone until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Delaware package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Waiting period
No residency wait
Delaware sets no months-long residency wait. To file, you must be over 21 and either a Delaware resident or a person with whom a child has been placed under § 904.
13 Del. C. § 903Child's consent
Age 14 and up
A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption. We prepare that form for you.
13 Del. C. § 907(b)Abandonment period
6 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months can have rights ended even without their consent.
13 Del. C. § 1103
100%Court acceptance
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Why Delaware families choose us
We make your Delaware 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 Delaware Family Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
89 Delaware families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Delaware courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Delaware 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 Delaware AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. Four to six months.
Delaware handles stepparent adoptions in the Family Court. The adoption runs under Title 13, Chapter 9, and ending the other parent's rights is a separate step under 13 Del. C. § 1103.
Day one · A short questionnaireTell us about your family
Day one · A short questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer a short questionnaire about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We use your answers to build every Delaware form. Most families finish it in one sitting.
Delaware Code Title 13, Chapter 9Within 24-48 hours · Documents readyYour Family Court packet arrives
Within 24-48 hours · Documents ready
Your Family Court packet arrives
Within 24-48 hours your court-ready packet is ready. We tell you how to file it with the Family Court in your county, and we explain the home study step so nothing surprises you.
13 Del. C. § 912While your case is open · Other parentThe other parent signs or the court acts
While your case is open · Other parent
The other parent signs or the court acts
If the other parent agrees, they sign a consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers. Termination is a separate step in Delaware, and we prepare it for you.
13 Del. C. § 1103Final stage · DecreeDecree and new birth certificate
Final stage · Decree
Decree and new birth certificate
The judge signs your adoption decree in the Family Court. We then help you request the new birth certificate from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics.
Delaware Office of Vital StatisticsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. 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, and the judge approved them anyway.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the consent route is the simplest. They sign the consent form we prepare, and your case moves forward.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- Your case then moves forward in the Family Court
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Delaware law gives the court a clear ground to move forward.
- Delaware sets the abandonment period at 6 months
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that long can have rights ended without signing anything
- We prepare the papers that show the facts in your family
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Delaware, termination is a separate step from the adoption petition, and we prepare those papers too.
13 Del. C. § 1103We have helped 89 Delaware families with their adoptions, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent.
One flat fee for your Delaware packet
For $349 you get the complete Delaware document package, and each additional child is $99.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What families tell us
★★★★★
We are officially a family! After waiting years to afford an attorney, we found your service and decided to take the leap. I’m so glad we did! The paperwork was detailed and well-organized, and the court accepted everything without any issues. Thank you for making this dream a reality for us.
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
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
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Delaware packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption for the Delaware Family Court
- Consent or termination papers for the other parent
- Child's consent form for children age 14 and older
- Home study materials and filing instructions for your county
- Notice documents and hearing preparation guide
- Final decree and new birth certificate request for the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Delaware
Delaware allows you to adopt any person over 18. The petitioner may be one person, a married couple, or an unmarried couple living together. The petition is filed in the Family Court of the county where any petitioner or the person being adopted lives. The adoptee must appear in court and consent, and adult cases typically finish in 2-3 months.
Who can adoptIndividual or couple
Who consentsThe adoptee only
Where to fileFamily Court, home county
HearingAdoptee appears and consents
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Delaware 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 Delaware adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Delaware courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 3 counties
Filed in your county's Family Court
Delaware has 3 counties, and your adoption is filed in the Family Court. Whether you live in Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown or Smyrna, we prepare your packet for the right county.
WilmingtonDoverNewarkMiddletownSmyrna+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Delaware 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 Delaware families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Delaware?
You file a petition in the Delaware Family Court, and we prepare all of the papers. You must be over 21 and either a Delaware resident or a person with whom a child has been placed under § 904 (13 Del. C. § 903). Delaware sets no months-long residency wait, and most cases finish in 4-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware allows adoption of any person over 18, and no relationship or age-gap condition appears in the statute (13 Del. C. § 951). Your adult stepchild must appear in court and consent (13 Del. C. § 953). These cases typically take 2-3 months.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Delaware?
Our complete Delaware package is $349, and each additional child is $99. The Family Court clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. A home study is required in Delaware, and its cost varies.
What if the other parent refuses to sign in Delaware?
Most families finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of our stepparent adoptions went forward without it. Delaware sets the abandonment period at 6 months (13 Del. C. § 1103), and we prepare the notice and termination papers.
Does Delaware require a home study for stepparent adoption?
Yes. Delaware does not waive the home study for stepparents (13 Del. C. § 912). We explain each step in your packet so you are ready when it comes up, and the cost of the home study varies.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Delaware?
If your child is 14 or older, yes. Delaware requires that child's consent (13 Del. C. § 907(b)). We prepare the consent form for your child to sign.
Does my stepchild still get child support after a Delaware adoption?
The other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due depends on Delaware law. Our packet explains what to expect for your situation.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adoption in Delaware?
After the judge signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics. We include the request form in your packet.
Go deeper on Delaware adoption
Every guide is written from Delaware law.
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Delaware?How do I adopt an adult in Delaware?How old do you have to be to adopt in Delaware?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Delaware?How much does adult adoption cost in Delaware?How does termination of parental rights work in Delaware?Is a home study required for stepparent adoption in Delaware?
All Delaware adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Delaware?
Join the 89 Delaware families we have helped. Call (855) 924-0450 and start your packet today.
Start Your Delaware Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST