Home study
Waived for you
Rhode Island waives the home study, so no social worker has to visit your home.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-11
Start today
$349
Complete Rhode Island package
26 Rhode Island families helped since 2001
Make Your Rhode Island Family Official.Rhode Island stepparent adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Family Court in 24-48 hours. Adult adoptions go to the probate court of your city or town.
We prepare every form, tell you what comes next, and stay with your Rhode Island family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Rhode Island package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency rule
No waiting period
Rhode Island sets no required number of months of residency before you can file.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-4Child's consent
Age 14 and up
A child who is 14 or older must agree to the adoption, and we prepare that form.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-5(a)Abandonment period
6 months
Six months of abandonment is the period Rhode Island law looks at when the other parent will not sign.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-7
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Rhode Island families choose us
We make your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Family Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
26 Rhode Island families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Rhode Island courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Family Court. About 3-6 months.
Rhode Island hears stepparent adoptions in the Family Court, with no home study and no residency waiting period, so the case moves steadily from filing to decree.
Start · Online questionnaireTell us about your family
Start · Online questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. You can do it from your phone. We build your Rhode Island papers from your answers.
Rhode Island General Laws Title 15, Chapter 7Within 24-48 hoursYour documents are ready for Family Court
Within 24-48 hours
Your documents are ready for Family Court
We prepare your petition and supporting papers for the Rhode Island Family Court, with clear filing instructions. You file with the Family Court clerk. Rhode Island waives the home study for your case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-4After filing · The other parentThe other parent signs or the court decides
After filing · The other parent
The other parent signs or the court decides
If the other parent agrees, they sign the consent we prepared. If not, we prepare the notice, and the court can act on abandonment of 6 months. Termination is handled inside the same case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-7Final 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 Family Court holds your hearing and signs the adoption decree. We then give you the request for a new birth certificate, which goes to the Rhode Island Department of Health Office of Vital Records.
Rhode Island Department of Health Office of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Rhode Island 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
If the other parent is willing, the process is simple. They sign a consent form that we prepare, and it goes to the Family Court with your petition.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- It is filed with your petition
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Rhode Island law gives the court a path forward based on abandonment.
- Rhode Island looks at abandonment of 6 months.
- A parent who has been out of the child's life for that period may not stand in the way of the adoption.
- We prepare the notice papers for you.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. Termination is not a separate case in Rhode Island, so it is handled within your adoption case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-7Rhode Island asks for no home study and sets no residency waiting period, so your case can move as soon as your papers reach the Family Court.
$349 covers your whole Rhode Island packet
A Rhode Island family pays $349 for the complete package, $99 for each additional child, and the court's filing fee to the clerk.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What families tell us
★★★★★
You all are amazing. I will recommended you to any one who is seeking to help the future of their children. Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Just wanted you to know our adoption was final March 26, 2008. Everything went off without a hitch. Thanks for offering a good clean service for a reasonable price. I came to you because I was told by the attorney I visited the going rate is $1000 down and average $3000 total if no complications. Astounding price for a simple adoption.
★★★★★
We did it! Our adoption was granted today, and we could not have done it without your help. The whole process was seamless, and the forms were accepted without any issues. My daughter now has the security of a legal father, and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for providing such an affordable and professional service.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Rhode Island packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption prepared for the Rhode Island Family Court
- Consent form for the other parent, or the notice and termination papers if they will not sign
- Consent form for a child who is 14 or older
- Supporting statements and exhibits for your Family Court filing
- Cover sheet and filing instructions for the Family Court clerk
- Final decree of adoption and your request for a new birth certificate from the Rhode Island Department of Health Office of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's statute does not bar adopting an older person, including a stepchild who is now an adult. The consent of the adult's parents is not required, and these petitions are filed in the probate court of your city or town, not the Family Court. The Providence Probate Court's local rules allow adult adoption only to establish a parent and child relationship, and they call for a hearing. Adult cases typically take 4-8 weeks.
Probate courtFiled in your city or town
No home studyNot required for adults
Parents' consentNot required by statute
Typical timelineAbout 4-8 weeks
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Rhode Island courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 5 counties
Serving all 5 Rhode Island counties
Rhode Island has 5 counties, and stepparent adoptions are heard in the Family Court. Whether you live in Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence or anywhere else in the state, we prepare your papers for the Family Court.
ProvidenceWarwickCranstonPawtucketEast Providence+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Rhode Island?
You file a petition in the Rhode Island Family Court, get the other parent's consent or give notice, and attend a hearing. We prepare all of the documents for $349 and have them ready in 24-48 hours. The law is found in Rhode Island General Laws Title 15, Chapter 7.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island's statute does not bar adopting an older person, and adult adoptions are filed in the probate court of your city or town. The consent of the adult's parents is not required under R.I. Gen. Laws 15-7-5. These cases typically take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Rhode Island?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The Family Court clerk sets the filing fee, so call the clerk's office to confirm it. Rhode Island waives the home study, so you do not pay for one.
What if the other parent in Rhode Island refuses to sign or can't be found?
Most families still finish. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Rhode Island looks at abandonment of 6 months under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-7, and we prepare the notice for you.
Does Rhode Island require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
Rhode Island waives the home study for stepparent adoptions under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-11. No social worker needs to visit your home. If the Family Court asks for anything more, our 100% court acceptance guarantee covers the papers we prepare.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Rhode Island?
A child who is 14 or older must consent, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-5(a). We prepare that consent form for you.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Rhode Island stepparent adoption?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Whether past-due support can still be collected depends on Rhode Island law.
Will my child get a new birth certificate in Rhode Island?
Yes. After the Family Court signs the decree, you send the request we prepared to the Rhode Island Department of Health Office of Vital Records.
Go deeper on Rhode Island adoption
Every guide is written from Rhode Island law.
How old do you have to be to adopt in Rhode Island?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Rhode Island?How do I adopt an adult in Rhode Island?What is the adult adoption process in Rhode Island?How do I file for stepparent adoption in Rhode Island?What are the requirements for stepparent adoption in Rhode Island?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Rhode Island?
All Rhode Island adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Rhode Island?
Join the 26 Rhode Island families we have helped, and start your stepchild's adoption today at (855) 924-0450.
Start Your Rhode Island Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST