Home study
Waived in Montana
Montana waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your home.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-309
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Complete Montana package
151 Montana families helped since 2001
Make Your Montana Family Official.Montana stepparent & adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the District Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file, and stay with your Montana family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Montana package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
Montana sets no residency waiting period for a stepparent adoption. You can file as soon as you are ready.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-104(1)Child's consent
Age 12
At age 12, your stepchild's own consent becomes part of the Montana case. We prepare that form.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-301Abandonment period
6 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months can be dealt with without his or her signature.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-608
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Montana families choose us
We make your Montana 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 Montana District Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
151 Montana families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Montana courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Montana 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 Montana AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One District Court. About 3-6 months.
Montana handles stepparent adoption in the District Court, with no home study and no residency wait, so most cases move steadily.
Step one · OnlineTell us about your family
Step one · Online
Tell us about your family
Answer a short questionnaire about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We turn your answers into Montana-ready forms. Your documents arrive in 24-48 hours.
Montana Code Annotated Title 42Step two · FilingFile with your county District Court
Step two · Filing
File with your county District Court
You file your petition with the District Court clerk in your Montana county. There is no residency waiting period to count, and no home study to schedule. The clerk sets the filing fee.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-104(1)Step three · Other parentThe other parent signs, or the court acts
Step three · Other parent
The other parent signs, or the court acts
If the other parent agrees, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the papers showing abandonment. Montana sets that abandonment period at 6 months.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-608Final step · HearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final step · Hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The judge hears your case and signs the adoption decree. We then help you request the amended birth certificate from the Montana Office of Vital Statistics. Your stepchild's name and your parental rights are made official.
Montana Office of Vital StatisticsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home for your stepchild, 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. We have helped 151 families in Montana.
They agree
When the other parent agrees, the case is the simplest it can be. We prepare the consent for signature, and you file it with your petition in the District Court.
- We draft the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- You file it with your petition
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Montana law gives the court a way forward based on abandonment.
- Montana sets the abandonment period at 6 months
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that long does not have to sign for the adoption to go forward
- We prepare the papers that show the facts of your situation
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Montana, termination is not a separate case; it is handled as part of the same adoption.
Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-608Montana waives the home study and has no residency wait, so your case can move forward without the usual delays.
One flat price for your Montana adoption papers
A Montana 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
★★★★★
What a blessing your service has been! My husband was able to adopt my son after years of wanting to make our family whole. The paperwork was flawless, and the court had no issues with any of the documents. You made this process simple and stress-free, and we are forever grateful.
★★★★★
Just wanted to let you know that I saved over $2000 from what I was quoted by an attorney. Thanks for your service. You provide a valuable service to us who can't afford an attorney. Sorry I had so many questions, but thanks for always being patient and helping me through the process. Thanks.
★★★★★
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.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Montana packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption for the Montana District Court
- Other parent's consent, or notice and abandonment papers if the parent will not sign
- Child's consent form for a child age 12 or older
- Spouse's supporting statement and cover sheet for the county clerk
- Proposed order and hearing paperwork for the District Court
- Final adoption decree and birth certificate request for the Montana Office of Vital Statistics
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Montana
In Montana, an adult may adopt another adult or an emancipated minor, but may not adopt his or her own spouse. Consent is required only from the person being adopted, the adopter, and the adopter's spouse. The adult's own parents do not have to consent. You file in the District Court in the county where a petitioner lives, and these cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Who can adoptAny adult
Parents' consentNot required
Residency90 days in Montana
Home studyDoes not apply
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Montana 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 Montana adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Montana courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 56 counties
Your county District Court, anywhere in Montana
Montana has 56 counties, and each one has a District Court that hears adoptions. Whether you live in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte or a small town, we prepare your papers for your own county's court.
BillingsMissoulaGreat FallsBozemanButte+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Montana 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 Montana families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Montana?
You file a petition in the District Court in your county, get the other parent's consent or show abandonment, and attend a hearing. Montana waives the home study under Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-309. We prepare all the documents, and most cases take 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Montana?
Yes. In Montana an adult may adopt another adult under MCA 42-4-402. Only the adult being adopted, the adopter and the adopter's spouse must consent, and the adult's parents do not. The petitioner must have lived in Montana for 90 days, and these cases often take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Montana?
Our complete package costs $349, with $99 for each additional child. The District Court clerk in your county sets the filing fee separately, so call the clerk to confirm. The home study is waived in Montana, so that cost is $0.
What if the other parent in Montana refuses to sign or can't be found?
Your case can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Montana sets a 6-month abandonment period under Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-608, and we prepare the notice and papers for you.
Does Montana require a home study for stepparent adoption?
Montana waives the home study in stepparent adoptions under Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-309. No social worker visits your home. We prepare the paperwork the District Court asks for.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Montana?
At age 12, your stepchild's consent is part of the case under Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-301. We include the consent form in your packet. For younger children, no consent form from the child is needed.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Montana adoption?
No. The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due before the adoption is governed by Montana law.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Montana?
Yes. After the judge signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Montana Office of Vital Statistics. Your packet includes that request, so you are ready as soon as the decree is signed.
Go deeper on Montana adoption
Every guide is written from Montana law.
How do I adopt an adult in Montana?How old do you have to be to adopt in Montana?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Montana?How much does adult adoption cost in Montana?How does termination of parental rights work in Montana?What records are sealed after adoption in Montana?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Montana?
All Montana adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Montana?
Join the 151 Montana families we have helped, and call (855) 924-0450 to start your adoption today.
Start Your Montana Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST