Home study
Waived
Iowa waives the home study for stepparent adoptions, so there are no social worker visits to schedule.
Iowa Code § 600.8
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$349
Complete Iowa package
521 Iowa families helped since 2001
Make Your Iowa Family Official.Iowa stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the District Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every Iowa form, tell you exactly where to file, and stay with your family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Iowa package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Iowa sets no residency requirement, so you can start as soon as your family is ready.
Iowa Code § 600.3Child's consent
Age 14 and up
A child who is 14 or older must give consent, and we prepare that form for you.
Iowa Code § 600.7Abandonment
No fixed months
Iowa has no set number of months. Abandonment depends on the other parent's overall conduct.
Iowa Code § 600A.8
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Iowa families choose us
We make your Iowa 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 Iowa District Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
521 Iowa families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Iowa courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Iowa 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 Iowa AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One District Court. About three to six months.
Iowa handles stepparent adoption under Iowa Code Chapter 600 in the District Court, with no residency wait and no home study.
Start today · A short questionnaireTell us about your family
Start today · A short questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer our simple questions about you, your spouse, your child and the other parent. We build your Iowa packet from your answers. No legal knowledge needed.
Iowa Code Chapter 600Within 24-48 hoursFile with your District Court clerk
Within 24-48 hours
File with your District Court clerk
Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours, with clear filing instructions for the clerk of the District Court in your Iowa county. Iowa has no residency waiting period, so you can file right away.
Iowa Code § 600.3After filingThe other parent signs, or the court decides
After filing
The other parent signs, or the court decides
If the other parent agrees, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment or termination papers. Most families we help finish without the other parent's signature.
Iowa Code § 600A.8Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The judge hears your case and signs the decree. We then prepare your request for an amended birth certificate to the Iowa Department of Public Health Vital Records. Most stepparent cases finish in 3-6 months.
Iowa Department of Public Health Vital RecordsDoes 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.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the process is quick and simple. We prepare the consent for them to sign, and your case moves forward.
- We prepare the written consent for you
- The other parent signs it, and you file it with your packet
- Your case then moves forward in the District Court
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign, or cannot be found, Iowa law gives the court a clear path based on abandonment.
- Iowa sets no fixed number of months for abandonment
- The court looks at the parent's overall conduct toward the child
- A parent who has stepped away from the child's life can lose the right to block the adoption
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Iowa, termination of parental rights is a separate step, and we prepare those papers too.
Iowa Code § 600A.8Iowa has no residency wait and no home study, and our 100% court acceptance guarantee covers your papers all the way to the District Court decree.
One flat fee. No surprises along the way.
An Iowa family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, and the court filing fee goes to the clerk.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Iowa families tell us
★★★★★
My adoption went through on April 14, 2011, thanks to your company. It was a rough road for me because my state has a lot of hoops to jump though. You guys were there for me helping me through out the ENTIRE thing! I am so happy to have found this company and can’t say enough good things about it. I started the adoption process in January 2011 and it is now complete! The Judge and all the court house employee’s were so impressed that I was able to do everything with out a lawyer! You all have been such a blessing!! These people are no joke! What they say, they will do! Great company!! Thank you so much from my family and my self!
★★★★★
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 Iowa packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for stepparent adoption for the Iowa District Court
- Consent from the other parent, or the termination of parental rights papers
- Consent form for a child who is 14 or older
- Notice papers for the other parent
- Step-by-step filing instructions for your District Court clerk
- Final decree of adoption and your birth certificate request to the Iowa Department of Public Health Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Iowa
Iowa allows adult adoption, and no termination of parental rights is needed first. The adoptee must consent in writing if 14 or older, and so must any guardian. If you are married and petition alone to adopt an adult, your spouse must also consent in writing. The petition goes to the court of the county where the adoptee or the petitioner lives. A hearing is required, held informally, and most adult cases finish in 4-8 weeks.
No terminationNone needed first
No home studyNot required for adults
Hearing requiredInformal; both present unless excused
One adopteePer petition filed
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Iowa 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 Iowa adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Iowa courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 99 counties
Serving all 99 Iowa counties
Iowa has 99 counties, and your adoption is filed with the District Court clerk in yours. We have helped 521 Iowa families, from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport to Sioux City, Iowa City and every town in between.
Des MoinesCedar RapidsDavenportSioux CityIowa City+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Iowa 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 Iowa families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Iowa?
You file a petition in the Iowa District Court under Iowa Code Chapter 600. We prepare the whole packet in 24-48 hours, and most stepparent cases finish in 3-6 months. Iowa has no residency waiting period.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa allows adult adoption, and no termination of parental rights is needed first. The adoptee consents in writing, no home study is required, and a hearing is held. Most adult cases take 4-8 weeks. Iowa Code § 600.3(1), (2)(a)(1), (4).
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Iowa?
Our complete package is $349, with $99 for each additional child. The home study is $0 because Iowa waives it. Your county clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it.
What if the other parent in Iowa refuses to sign or can't be found?
Most families we help go forward without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of ours did. Iowa sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. The court looks at the parent's overall conduct. Iowa Code § 600A.8. We prepare the notice and the termination papers.
Does Iowa require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No home study is needed. Iowa waives it for stepparent adoptions under Iowa Code § 600.8, so there are no home visits to schedule.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Iowa?
If your child is 14 or older, yes. Iowa requires the child's consent at that age under Iowa Code § 600.7. We prepare the consent form for your child to sign.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Iowa?
Yes, going forward. Once the adoption is final, the other parent's duty to pay future support ends. Whether past-due support is still owed depends on Iowa law.
Will my child get a new birth certificate in Iowa?
Yes. After the decree, we prepare your request to the Iowa Department of Public Health Vital Records.
Go deeper on Iowa adoption
Every guide is written from Iowa law.
How do I adopt an adult in Iowa?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Iowa?How old do you have to be to adopt in Iowa?Can I adopt my stepparent as an adult in Iowa?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Iowa?
All Iowa adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Iowa?
Join the 521 Iowa families we have helped, and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on your child.
Start Your Iowa Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST