Home study
Waived
Maine does not require a home study in a stepparent adoption, so no social worker visits your home.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-304
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$349
Complete Maine package
151 Maine families helped since 2001
Make Your Maine Family Official.Maine stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, court-ready documents for the Probate Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form for your Maine Probate Court, answer your questions by phone, and stay with your family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Maine package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Maine sets no residency months for a stepparent adoption. You can start now.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-301Child's consent
Age 12 and up
A child who is 12 or older must agree to the adoption. Younger children do not sign.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-302Abandonment
6 months
Maine looks at a 6-month abandonment period when the other parent has not been part of the child's life.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-204; 22 M.R.S. § 4002(1-A)
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Maine families choose us
We make your Maine 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 Maine Probate Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
151 Maine families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Maine courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Maine 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 Maine AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Probate Court. About 3-6 months.
In Maine, stepparent adoptions are filed in the Probate Court under Title 18-C, Article 9, and most families finish in 3-6 months.
Day 1 · OnlineTell us about your family
Day 1 · Online
Tell us about your family
Answer our questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. There is no Maine residency waiting period, so you can begin right away.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-301Within 24-48 hoursYour Probate Court documents are ready
Within 24-48 hours
Your Probate Court documents are ready
We prepare your petition and supporting papers for the Probate Court in your Maine county. You sign them and file them with the court clerk. Maine waives the home study for stepparents, so there is no extra visit to schedule.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-304After filingThe other parent signs, or the court proceeds
After filing
The other parent signs, or the court proceeds
If the other parent agrees, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment grounds, and the case goes forward. A child who is 12 or older gives consent too.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-302Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The Probate Court judge signs your decree and the adoption is final. We then prepare your request to the Maine Office of Vital Records for your child's new birth certificate.
Maine Office of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a stable two-parent home for your child, 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 friendly. We prepare the consent paperwork, and you arrange for the parent to sign it.
- We prepare the consent form for Maine
- The other parent signs and returns it
- It goes to the Probate Court with your petition
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent has abandoned the child for 6 months, Maine law gives the court a clear ground to move ahead without that parent's signature.
- Maine uses a 6-month abandonment period.
- If the other parent has abandoned the child, that parent's consent is not what holds up the adoption.
- The definition appears in the adoption code and in the child-protection statute.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Maine, termination is not a separate case. It is handled as part of the same adoption petition.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-204; 22 M.R.S. § 4002(1-A)We have helped 151 families in Maine with their Probate Court adoption.
One flat fee. No home study cost in Maine.
For $349, a Maine family gets the complete court-ready document package, with $99 for each additional child.
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 just completed our stepparent adoption, and I have to say, the entire process was easier than I ever imagined. The forms were thorough and well-prepared, and when I had a question, your team was quick to respond with clear and helpful answers. The judge finalized our case today, and we couldn’t be happier! Thank you for everything you’ve done for our family.
★★★★★
Sending you a quick note that the publication was finally completed and the Judge signed my adoption. You guys stayed with me through the whole process. Thanks. I didn't know what to do when the father disappeared. Thanks for helping me through the process
★★★★★
I was nervous about doing this without an attorney, but after working with your team, I knew I was in good hands. Every question I had was answered promptly, and the forms were exactly what the court needed. Today, we finalized our adoption, and it was an emotional, beautiful moment for our family. Thank you for making this possible.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Maine packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption for the Maine Probate Court
- Consent or notice papers for the other parent, with the abandonment grounds in the same case
- Consent of the child, for a child who is 12 or older
- Supporting statements and the family information the Probate Court asks for
- Filing instructions for the Probate Court in your Maine county
- Final adoption decree and the new birth certificate request to the Maine Office of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Maine
Maine lets you petition to adopt a person, regardless of age. There is no relationship, disability or age-gap condition. An adoptee who is 12 or older must consent, and the adoptee's parents do not have to when the adoptee is 18 or older. The petition goes to the Probate Court, no home study is required, and the hearing can be waived. A married adopter petitions jointly with the spouse, and most adult cases take 4-8 weeks.
Any ageAdoptee can be any age
Adoptee consentsRequired at 12 or older
ParentsNot required when the adoptee is 18 or older
No home studyNot required for adults
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Maine 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 Maine adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Maine courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 16 counties
Your county Probate Court, anywhere in Maine
Maine has 16 counties, and adoption petitions are filed in the Probate Court. Whether you live in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn or a small town, we prepare your papers for your county's court.
PortlandLewistonBangorSouth PortlandAuburn+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Maine 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 Maine families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Maine?
You file a petition for adoption in the Probate Court under Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C, Article 9. Maine has no residency waiting period and waives the home study for stepparents. We prepare all your documents, and most families finish in 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Maine?
Yes. Maine allows a petition to adopt a person, regardless of age, under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-301. The adult stepchild must consent, but the adoptee's parents do not have to. The hearing can be waived, and these cases often take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Maine?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The Probate Court clerk in your county sets the filing fee, so call to confirm it. Because Maine waives the home study, you do not pay for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign in Maine?
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 that way. Maine uses a 6-month abandonment period under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-204; 22 M.R.S. § 4002(1-A). We prepare the notice, and termination is handled in the same case.
Does Maine require a home study for stepparent adoption?
Maine waives the home study for stepparent adoptions under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-304. No social worker visits your home. We prepare whatever forms your Probate Court asks for.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Maine?
Only if the child is 12 or older. Maine requires that child's consent under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-302. A child younger than 12 does not sign anything.
Does my stepchild's other parent still owe child support in Maine after adoption?
No. Child support going forward ends when the adoption is final, because you become the legal parent. Support that was already past due before the adoption depends on Maine law.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adoption in Maine?
After the Probate Court signs your decree, a request goes to the Maine Office of Vital Records for your child's new birth certificate. We prepare that request for you with your final documents.
Go deeper on Maine adoption
Every guide is written from Maine law.
How old do you have to be to adopt in Maine?How do I adopt an adult in Maine?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Maine?What is the timeline for adopting my stepchild in Maine?Can a stepparent adopt without the father's permission in Maine?Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Maine?What records are sealed after adoption in Maine?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Maine?What are the requirements for stepparent adoption in Maine?
All Maine adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Maine?
Maine families have trusted us since 2001. Call (855) 924-0450 and we will start your Probate Court papers today.
Start Your Maine Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST