Home study
Required
Maryland does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions, so we build it into your plan from day one.
Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-16
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$349
Complete Maryland package
519 Maryland families helped since 2001
Make Your Maryland Family Official.Maryland stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, court-ready documents for the Circuit Court in 24-48 hours
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file, and stay with your Maryland family from your first question until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Maryland package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Maryland sets no residency waiting period, so you can start as soon as your papers are ready.
Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 6-203(e)Child's consent
Age 10 and up
A child who is 10 or older must consent to the adoption, and we prepare that form for you.
Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-20(b)(1)(ii)Abandonment
12 months
A 12-month abandonment period gives your family a clear path when the other parent is absent.
Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-22(b)(1)
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Maryland families choose us
We make your Maryland 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 Maryland Circuit Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
519 Maryland families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Maryland courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Maryland 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 Maryland AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Circuit Court. About 3-6 months.
Maryland handles stepparent adoptions in the Circuit Court, and the whole case, including any termination of the other parent's rights, moves forward in one filing.
Start · onlineTell us about your Maryland family
Start · online
Tell us about your Maryland family
Answer a simple online questionnaire about you, your spouse, your child and the other parent. There is no legal jargon and no guessing what a question means.
Maryland Code Family Law Title 5, Subtitle 3AWithin 24-48 hoursFile with your county Circuit Court
Within 24-48 hours
File with your county Circuit Court
Your court-ready documents arrive with clear filing instructions. You file in the Circuit Court in your Maryland county, and there is no residency waiting period to hold you up.
Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 6-203(e)After filingThe other parent signs or the court proceeds
After filing
The other parent signs or the court proceeds
If the other parent agrees, they sign a consent. If they will not sign and have abandoned your child for 12 months, we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers, and your case keeps moving. Your child's consent is added if your child is 10 or older.
Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-22(b)(1)Final stage · about 3-6 months inHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final stage · about 3-6 months in
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The judge reviews your case, signs the decree, and your family becomes official. We then help you request the new birth certificate from the Maryland Division of Vital Records.
Maryland Division of 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
When the other parent is willing, the Maryland process is quick and friendly. They sign a consent, we include it in your packet, and your case moves toward the hearing.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it and returns it
- It goes in your Circuit Court filing
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Maryland law gives your case a clear way forward.
- Maryland sets a 12-month abandonment period
- A parent who has abandoned the child that long does not hold up the adoption
- We prepare the papers that show the facts to the court
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Maryland, termination is not a separate case, so it is handled as part of your same adoption.
Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-22(b)(1)If the other parent has abandoned your child for 12 months, your Maryland adoption can move forward without their signature. We have helped 519 Maryland families.
One clear price for your Maryland adoption papers
A Maryland family pays $349 for the complete package, plus $99 for each additional child, and the clerk's filing fee is paid separately to the court.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What 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
★★★★★
Absolutely amazing! From start to finish, your service was professional, efficient, and truly made this process easier than I ever expected. The judge even commented on how well-prepared everything was. Our family is now complete, and we have you to thank for it. We will be recommending you to anyone we know looking to do an adoption.
★★★★★
I went to my hearing yesterday and my adoption is final. Your service was always expedient, and helpful. You have a very professional company, and when having different options, I am so glad I chose your company
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Maryland packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption prepared for the Circuit Court in your Maryland county
- Consent from the other parent, or the abandonment and termination papers if they will not sign
- Consent form for a child who is 10 or older
- Home study paperwork for the Maryland process
- Notice papers and step-by-step filing instructions for your county clerk
- Final adoption decree and your request for a new birth certificate from the Maryland Division of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Maryland
Any adult may petition to adopt another adult in Maryland, and the statute sets no required relationship and no age gap. Parental consent is not required when the person being adopted is an adult. You file in the Circuit Court, which sits as an equity court, and the show-cause order and service provisions do not apply. A home study is generally not required, and the court may order one only for good cause. Most adult adoptions finish in about 4-8 weeks.
Who petitionsAny adult may petition
Parent consentNot required for adults
Where to fileCircuit Court, equity side
Age gapNone set in statute
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Maryland 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 Maryland adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Maryland courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 24 counties
Filed in your Maryland county's Circuit Court
Maryland has 24 counties, and your adoption is filed in the Circuit Court. Whether you live near Baltimore, Frederick, Rockville, Gaithersburg or Bowie, we prepare your papers for the court where you file.
BaltimoreFrederickRockvilleGaithersburgBowie+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Maryland 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 Maryland families ask us
Can I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Maryland?
Yes. Any adult may petition the Circuit Court for adoption under Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-3B-13(b)(1). We prepare every document and walk you through filing in your county.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland allows adult adoption, and any adult may petition under Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-3B-13 (as amended by 2025 HB 243, eff. Oct. 1, 2025). Parental consent is not required for an adult, and most cases finish in about 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Maryland?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The Circuit Court clerk in your county sets the filing fee, so call the clerk's office to confirm it.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Maryland?
Your adoption can still go forward. Maryland sets a 12-month abandonment period under Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-22(b)(1), and we prepare the notice and papers. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
Does Maryland require a home study for stepparent adoption?
Yes. Maryland does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions, and the rule is in Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-16. We include the home study paperwork in your packet so you know what to expect.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Maryland?
If your child is 10 or older, yes. The child's consent is required under Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-20(b)(1)(ii), and we prepare the consent form for you.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Maryland stepparent adoption?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Whether past-due support is still owed depends on Maryland law.
Will my child get a new birth certificate after adoption in Maryland?
Yes. After the judge signs the decree, we help you request a new birth certificate from the Maryland Division of Vital Records. It shows your family as it truly is.
Go deeper on Maryland adoption
Every guide is written from Maryland law.
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Maryland?How do I adopt an adult in Maryland?How old do you have to be to adopt in Maryland?How do I file for stepparent adoption in Maryland?How long does adult adoption take in Maryland?How much does adult adoption cost in Maryland?Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Maryland?
All Maryland adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Maryland?
Join the 519 Maryland families we have helped, and let us take the paperwork off your shoulders today.
Start Your Maryland Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST