Home study
Waived
North Dakota waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so there is no social worker visit to schedule.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-11
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$349
Complete North Dakota package
172 North Dakota families helped since 2001
Make Your North Dakota Family Official.North Dakota stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the District Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every North Dakota form, show you exactly where to file, and stay with your family until the judge signs your adoption decree.
$349 complete North Dakota package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
North Dakota sets no residency period before you can file your stepparent adoption petition.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-04Child's consent
Age 10
A child who is 10 or older gives written consent to the adoption.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-05Abandonment period
12 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for 12 months can lose parental rights without signing.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-19
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why North Dakota families choose us
We make your North Dakota 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 North Dakota District Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
172 North Dakota families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation North Dakota courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A North Dakota 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 North Dakota AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One District Court. About 3-6 months.
North Dakota handles stepparent adoptions in the District Court, with no residency wait and no home study to slow your case down.
Day 1 · OnlineTell us about your family
Day 1 · Online
Tell us about your family
Answer a short set of questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We use your answers to build every form your North Dakota case needs.
North Dakota Century Code Chapter 14-1524-48 hours · Your countyFile with the District Court
24-48 hours · Your county
File with the District Court
Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours, along with filing instructions. You file in the District Court of your county. The clerk sets the filing fee.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-04After filing · The other parentThe other parent signs or is given notice
After filing · The other parent
The other parent signs or is given notice
If the other parent will sign a consent, we have the papers ready. If not, we prepare the notice. Most of our families finish without the other parent's consent.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-19Final stage · Within 3-6 monthsHearing, decree, new birth certificate
Final stage · Within 3-6 months
Hearing, decree, new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing and the judge signs the adoption decree. We then prepare your request to the North Dakota Division of Vital Records for a new birth certificate naming you as parent.
North Dakota Division of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home for the 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. We have helped 172 North Dakota families.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the consent route is the quickest. They sign a written consent, we prepare it, and it goes into your District Court file.
- The other parent signs a written consent
- A child who is 10 or older also gives written consent
- No residency wait and no home study
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, North Dakota law gives the court a clear ground to move forward.
- North Dakota sets a 12-month abandonment period.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that 12 months can lose parental rights without signing a consent.
- The adoption can still be approved without that parent's signature.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In North Dakota, termination is not a separate case. It is handled as part of your adoption.
N.D.C.C. § 14-15-19In North Dakota there is no residency wait and no home study, so your case can move as soon as your documents are filed.
One flat price. No surprise bills for paperwork.
A North Dakota 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 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.
★★★★★
Hello, I would love to write you a testimonial! We filed the papers on June 14th and by August 1st we were granted a full and complete step parent adoption. Everything went beautifully thanks to your company and help and I greatly appreciate it and would recommend your company to anyone! Thank you again.
★★★★★
Great News!! Our adoption was granted last week. Thank you for your tremendous support throughout this process and helping to make our dreams come true.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your North Dakota packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption for the North Dakota District Court
- Consent of the other parent, or the notice and termination papers if the other parent will not sign
- Child's written consent form for a child who is 10 or older
- Stepparent's affidavit and supporting statements for the District Court
- Proposed hearing notice and order for the District Court
- Final adoption decree and the new birth certificate request for the North Dakota Division of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in North Dakota
Any individual may be adopted in North Dakota, and an adult is anyone 18 or older. There is no relative, stepchild, disability or age-gap condition. The adult adoptee and the adoptee's spouse give written consent, the parents' consent is not required, and the petition is filed in District Court. A hearing is held in closed court, and each living parent gets notice at least 20 days before it. Adult cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Who qualifiesAny individual, 18 or older
Parents' consentNot required
Home studyNot required
ResidencyNo duration requirement
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed North Dakota 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 North Dakota adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what North Dakota courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 53 counties
All 53 North Dakota counties covered
North Dakota has 53 counties, and your petition is filed in the District Court. Whether you live in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot or West Fargo, we prepare the papers for your court.
FargoBismarckGrand ForksMinotWest Fargo+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
North Dakota 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 North Dakota families ask us
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in North Dakota?
You file a petition in the North Dakota District Court, get the other parent's consent or give notice, attend a hearing, and receive a decree. We prepare every document. The case is governed by North Dakota Century Code Chapter 14-15, and stepparent cases typically take 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in North Dakota?
Yes. Any individual may be adopted in North Dakota (N.D.C.C. 14-15-02), and an adult is anyone 18 or older. The adoptee and the adoptee's spouse give written consent, and the adult's parents do not have to consent. Adult cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in North Dakota?
Our complete package is $349, and $99 for each additional child. The District Court clerk in your county sets the filing fee, so call to confirm it. North Dakota waives the home study for stepparent adoptions, so you pay nothing for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in North Dakota?
Your adoption can still move forward. North Dakota sets a 12-month abandonment period (N.D.C.C. § 14-15-19), and notice to the other parent is a routine step we prepare. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
Does North Dakota require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No home study is required. North Dakota waives it in stepparent adoptions (N.D.C.C. § 14-15-11). We prepare the papers the District Court asks for, so you are not left guessing about what to file.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in North Dakota?
A child who is 10 or older must give written consent (N.D.C.C. § 14-15-05). We include the consent form in your packet. For a younger child, no consent form is needed.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a North Dakota adoption?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due depends on North Dakota law. Your decree makes you the child's legal parent.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in North Dakota?
Yes. After the judge signs the decree, we prepare your request to the North Dakota Division of Vital Records. The new certificate names you as the child's parent.
Go deeper on North Dakota adoption
Every guide is written from North Dakota law.
How do I adopt an adult in North Dakota?How old do you have to be to adopt in North Dakota?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in North Dakota?How much does stepparent adoption cost in North Dakota?What if I don't know where the biological parent is in North Dakota?Can I adopt my adult stepchild in North Dakota?How long does adult adoption take in North Dakota?
All North Dakota adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in North Dakota?
Join the 172 North Dakota families we have helped, and let us handle the paperwork while you enjoy your family.
Start Your North Dakota Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST