Home study
Waived
Massachusetts does not require a home study for a stepparent adoption, so there is no visit and no extra cost.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 5A
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$349
Complete Massachusetts package
162 Massachusetts families helped since 2001
Make Your Massachusetts Family Official.Massachusetts stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Probate and Family Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file in your county, and stay on the phone with you until the Massachusetts judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Massachusetts package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
Massachusetts sets no residency waiting period. You can start your paperwork today.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 1Child's consent
Over age 12
A child older than 12 must give written consent. Younger children do not sign.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 2Abandonment
No fixed period
There is no set number of months. The court looks at the other parent's overall conduct.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 3
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
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Why Massachusetts families choose us
We make your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Probate Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
162 Massachusetts families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Massachusetts courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. About three to six months.
Massachusetts handles stepparent adoptions in the Probate and Family Court, and most families finish in about three to six months.
Day one · onlineTell us about your family
Day one · online
Tell us about your family
You answer simple questions about you, your spouse, your child and the other parent. We turn your answers into Massachusetts forms. Nothing to look up in the statute.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210Within 24-48 hoursFile with your county Probate Court
Within 24-48 hours
File with your county Probate Court
Your court-ready packet arrives with filing instructions. You file the petition in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live. The clerk sets the filing fee.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 1Weeks after filingThe other parent signs, or the court decides
Weeks 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, which is a routine step. Termination is handled inside the same adoption case.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 3Final stage · hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final stage · hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing, and the judge may hold it in chambers. After the decree, we prepare your request to the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics for the new birth certificate.
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and StatisticsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a 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. Either way, we prepare the papers for your route.
They agree
When the other legal parent agrees, the process is quick. Massachusetts law calls for that parent's written consent, and we prepare it for you.
- Written consent from the other legal parent
- Written consent from your child if older than 12
- Your spouse joins the petition with you
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Massachusetts law has a path for that too.
- Massachusetts sets no fixed number of months for abandonment.
- The court looks at the parent's overall conduct, such as contact, support and involvement in the child's life.
- A parent who has stepped back from the child's life can be found to have abandoned the child.
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Massachusetts, termination is not a separate case. It is part of the same adoption case.
M.G.L. c. 210 § 3We have helped 162 Massachusetts families, and we know how to prepare your Probate and Family Court papers whether or not the other parent signs.
One flat price. No home study bill. No surprises.
A Massachusetts family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, and 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
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
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.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Massachusetts packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption for the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court
- Consent of the other parent, or the notice papers when that parent will not sign
- Your child's written consent if older than 12, and your spouse's joinder
- Checklist confirming no home study is needed for a Massachusetts stepparent adoption
- Cover sheet and filing instructions for your county Probate and Family Court clerk
- Final adoption decree and new birth certificate request for the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Massachusetts
A person of full age may adopt someone younger than themselves, unless that person is their spouse. There is no relationship or disability requirement. The adult being adopted must give written consent, and the statute lets the court go forward without parental consent when the adoptee is 18 or older. You file in the Probate and Family Court of the county where you live, a judge holds a hearing, and these cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Younger adopteeAdoptee must be younger than you
No spousesYou cannot adopt your spouse
Adult consentsThe adoptee must sign consent
No home studyNo investigation for adult adoptees
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Massachusetts courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 14 counties
Filed in your county's Probate Court
Massachusetts has 14 counties, and your case is filed in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live. We prepare the packet for your county, whether you are in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell or anywhere between.
BostonWorcesterSpringfieldCambridgeLowell+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Massachusetts?
You file a petition in the Probate and Family Court of your county, with the required consents, under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210. We prepare the full packet in 24-48 hours. Most families finish in about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Massachusetts?
Yes. A person of full age may adopt someone younger than themselves, unless that person is their spouse (M.G.L. c. 210, § 1). The adult must consent in writing. These cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Massachusetts?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The county Probate and Family Court clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. There is no home study cost.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Massachusetts?
The adoption can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Massachusetts sets no fixed number of months for abandonment (M.G.L. c. 210 § 3). We prepare the notice, and termination is part of the same case.
Does Massachusetts require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No. The home study is waived for stepparent adoptions in Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 210 § 5A). That saves you the cost and the waiting.
Does my child have to agree to a Massachusetts adoption?
Only if your child is older than 12. At that age, the child's written consent is required (M.G.L. c. 210 § 2). Younger children do not sign anything.
Does adoption end child support in Massachusetts?
Yes, for the future. Once the adoption is final, the other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends. Whether past-due support is still owed depends on Massachusetts law.
Will my child get a new birth certificate in Massachusetts?
Yes. After the decree, we prepare your request to the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
Go deeper on Massachusetts adoption
Every guide is written from Massachusetts law.
How do I adopt an adult in Massachusetts?How old do you have to be to adopt in Massachusetts?What are the adoption laws in Massachusetts?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Massachusetts?Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Massachusetts?What is the timeline for adopting my stepchild in Massachusetts?Do I need the biological father's consent for stepparent adoption in Massachusetts?Is there a waiting period between filing and the hearing in Massachusetts?How long does stepparent adoption take in Massachusetts?What is the total cost of stepparent adoption in Massachusetts including court fees?
All Massachusetts adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Massachusetts?
Join the 162 Massachusetts families we have helped, and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on your child.
Start Your Massachusetts Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST