Home study
Waived
Pennsylvania waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your house.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c); § 2535(a)
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$349
Complete Pennsylvania package
1,250 Pennsylvania families helped since 2001
Make Your Pennsylvania Family Official.Pennsylvania stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, court-ready documents in 24-48 hours
We prepare every form for your Pennsylvania case, check it, and stay with you until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Pennsylvania package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Pennsylvania sets no minimum residency time for you to file. You can start now.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2302Child's consent
Over age 12
A child over 12 must consent to the adoption. Younger children do not sign.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2711Abandonment period
6 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for six months can have parental rights ended without signing.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Pennsylvania families choose us
We make your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Orphans' Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
1,250 Pennsylvania families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Pennsylvania courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. About 3-6 months.
Pennsylvania stepparent adoptions are filed in the Orphans' Court of your county, and most finish in 3-6 months.
Day one · onlineTell us about your family
Day one · 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 your Pennsylvania packet. There is no home study to schedule.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c); § 2535(a)Within 24-48 hoursFile with your county Orphans' Court
Within 24-48 hours
File with your county Orphans' Court
Your court-ready documents arrive in 24-48 hours with filing instructions. You file in the Orphans' Court clerk's office in the county where you or the child live. Pennsylvania has no residency waiting period.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2302After filingThe other parent signs, or the court decides
After filing
The other parent signs, or the court decides
If the other parent agrees, they sign a consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers. A child over 12 also signs a consent.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511Final hearing · 3-6 months from startHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing · 3-6 months from start
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing in Orphans' Court and the judge signs the decree. We then prepare your request to the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records for a new birth certificate naming you as parent.
Pennsylvania Division of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home; 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, and the judge approved them anyway.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the process is simple. They sign a consent form and we include it in your packet.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- No contested fight, usually a quicker case
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign, or cannot be found, Pennsylvania law gives the court grounds to move forward.
- Pennsylvania sets the abandonment period at six months.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that long can have parental rights ended without signing.
- A parent who cannot be found is given notice the way the court requires.
Notice, and publication when needed, are routine steps and we prepare them for you. Termination is not a separate case in Pennsylvania; we include it in your packet.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511We have helped 1,250 Pennsylvania families, and we are ready to help yours.
One flat fee, and no home study to pay for
A Pennsylvania family pays $349 for the complete package and $99 for each additional child, plus the filing fee the clerk sets.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Pennsylvania 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.
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
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.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Pennsylvania packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption prepared for your county Orphans' Court
- Consent of the other parent, or the abandonment and termination papers with notice
- Consent form for a child over 12
- Spouse and stepparent forms with county filing instructions
- Hearing notices and proposed order for the Orphans' Court judge
- Final decree and request to the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records for a new birth certificate
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania says any individual may be adopted, regardless of age or residence. There is no relationship, prior-contact or age-gap condition. The adult being adopted must consent, and your spouse must consent unless your spouse joins the petition. The petition goes to the court of common pleas of the county, a hearing is required, and these cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Any ageNo age-gap rule
Adoptee consentsThe adult must agree
No home studyNot required for adults
Hearing requiredThe court sets a time
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Pennsylvania courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 67 counties
Every Pennsylvania county, one process
Pennsylvania has 67 counties, and each one hears adoptions in its Orphans' Court. We format your documents for your county, whether you file in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Reading, Erie or a small rural county.
PhiladelphiaPittsburghAllentownReadingErie+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania families ask us
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Pennsylvania?
You file a petition in the Orphans' Court of your county, and the other parent consents or the court ends their rights. Pennsylvania waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c); § 2535(a)). Most cases finish in 3-6 months. We prepare every document.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania allows any individual to be adopted regardless of age or residence (23 Pa.C.S. 2311). The adult must consent, and a hearing is required. These cases often take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Pennsylvania?
Our complete package is $349, with $99 for each additional child. The county clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. There is no home study cost in a Pennsylvania stepparent adoption.
What if the other parent refuses or can't be found in Pennsylvania?
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. Pennsylvania sets the abandonment period at six months (23 Pa.C.S. § 2511), and we prepare the notice.
Is a home study required for a Pennsylvania stepparent adoption?
No home study is required. Pennsylvania waives it for stepparent adoptions (23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c); § 2535(a)). No social worker visits your home.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Pennsylvania?
A child over 12 must consent (23 Pa.C.S. § 2711). We include the consent form in your packet. Younger children do not sign.
Does a stepparent adoption end child support in Pennsylvania?
Child support going forward ends when the adoption is final, because the other parent's legal duty ends. Whether past-due support stays owed depends on Pennsylvania law.
Will my Pennsylvania child get a new birth certificate after adoption?
Yes. After the judge signs the decree, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records issues a new birth certificate naming you as parent. We prepare the request for you.
Go deeper on Pennsylvania adoption
Every guide is written from Pennsylvania law.
How old do you have to be to adopt in Pennsylvania?How do I adopt an adult in Pennsylvania?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Pennsylvania?How much does adult adoption cost in Pennsylvania?What are the requirements for stepparent adoption in Pennsylvania?How does termination of parental rights work in Pennsylvania?Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Pennsylvania?What records are sealed after adoption in Pennsylvania?
All Pennsylvania adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Pennsylvania?
Join the 1,250 Pennsylvania families we have helped. Call (855) 924-0450 and get your Orphans' Court documents in 24-48 hours.
Start Your Pennsylvania Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST