Home study
Waived
South Carolina waives the home study for stepparent adoptions, so there are no social worker visits to schedule.
S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1)
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$349
Complete South Carolina package
942 South Carolina families helped since 2001
Make Your South Carolina Family Official.South Carolina stepparent & adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the Family Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly what to file and when, and stay with your family until the judge signs the decree.
$349 complete South Carolina package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
No minimum wait
No set number of months applies. You need to be a South Carolina resident, and you can start now.
S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A)Child's consent
Age 14
A child who is 14 or older has to consent to the adoption, so we build that into your packet.
S.C. Code § 63-9-310Abandonment period
Six months
A parent who has abandoned the child for six months gives the Family Court a clear ground to move forward.
S.C. Code § 63-7-2570
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why South Carolina families choose us
We make your South Carolina 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 South Carolina Family Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
942 South Carolina families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation South Carolina courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A South Carolina 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 South Carolina AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Family Court. About 3-6 months.
South Carolina handles stepparent adoptions in the Family Court, with no residency waiting period and no home study to slow you down.
TodayTell us about your family
Today
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 for South Carolina. Most families finish this in one sitting.
S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A)Within 24-48 hoursFile with your county Family Court
Within 24-48 hours
File with your county Family Court
Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours, with filing instructions for your county clerk. South Carolina sets no minimum residency period in months, and the home study is waived for stepparents. You file and the court sets your case.
S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1)After filingThe other parent signs or notice goes out
After filing
The other parent signs or notice goes out
If the other parent agrees, we prepare the consent for them to sign. If not, we prepare the notice to the other parent. A child who is 14 or older gives consent too.
S.C. Code § 63-9-310Hearing dayHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Hearing day
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing in the Family Court and the judge signs the adoption decree. We then help you request the amended birth certificate from South Carolina DHEC Vital Records. The whole case typically runs 3-6 months.
South Carolina DHEC Vital RecordsDoes 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 942 South Carolina families.
They agree
When the other parent is willing, the process is simple. We prepare the consent paperwork and you take it to them to sign.
- The other parent signs the consent we prepare
- Your child, if 14 or older, signs a consent too
- Your case moves straight to the hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign, South Carolina law gives the Family Court a clear ground to go forward when that parent has abandoned the child for six months.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for six months can lose parental rights
- Abandonment is measured against the six month period in South Carolina law
- The court can approve your adoption without that parent's signature
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. Because terminating rights is not a separate case in South Carolina, it is handled as part of the same adoption case.
S.C. Code § 63-7-2570In South Carolina, a parent who has abandoned the child for six months does not stop your adoption, and we prepare every notice the Family Court needs.
One flat price, and no home study fee
A South Carolina family pays $349 for the complete package, plus the clerk's filing fee, and nothing for a home study.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What South Carolina families tell 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.
★★★★★
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 South Carolina packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption for the South Carolina Family Court
- Consent or termination papers for the other parent, with notice prepared
- Child's consent form for a child who is 14 or older
- Stepparent adoption affidavits and supporting statements
- Filing instructions and hearing preparation guide for your county
- Final adoption decree and the new birth certificate request to South Carolina DHEC Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in South Carolina
An adult may be adopted by another adult in South Carolina, and the law sets no relationship, prior-relationship or age-gap condition. The person being adopted consents in writing, or that person's guardian does, along with the spouse of a sole adoptive parent. The petition is filed in the Family Court of the county where the adoptive parents live. A hearing is required, and the court enters the decree if it finds the adoption is in the best interests of the people involved. Most adult cases take 4-8 weeks.
Adult adopts adultNo relationship condition
No age gapNone found in the statute
Written consentAdoptee or guardian, plus a sole adopter's spouse
Hearing requiredIn your county Family Court
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed South Carolina 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 South Carolina adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what South Carolina courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 46 counties
Every South Carolina county, one Family Court
South Carolina has 46 counties, and each one has a Family Court that hears adoptions. We prepare your documents for your county, whether you live in Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant or Rock Hill.
CharlestonColumbiaNorth CharlestonMount PleasantRock Hill+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
South Carolina 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 South Carolina families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in South Carolina?
You file a petition in your county Family Court. South Carolina sets no minimum residency period in months, but you must be a South Carolina resident under S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A). We prepare your whole packet in 24-48 hours, and most cases finish in 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in South Carolina?
Yes. S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1120 allows one adult to adopt another, with no relationship or age-gap condition. The adult being adopted, or that person's guardian, consents in writing. If there is a sole adoptive parent, that parent's spouse, if any, consents too. A hearing is held in the Family Court, and these cases often take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in South Carolina?
Our complete package is $349, and each additional child is $99. Your county Family Court clerk sets the filing fee separately, so call the clerk to confirm it. Because the home study is waived, you do not pay for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in South Carolina?
Your adoption can still go forward. A parent who has abandoned the child for six months gives the court a ground under S.C. Code § 63-7-2570. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent, and we prepare the notice.
Does South Carolina require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No. South Carolina waives the home study for stepparent adoptions under S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1). That means no social worker visit and no home study fee for your family.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in South Carolina?
A child who is 14 or older has to consent, under S.C. Code § 63-9-310. We include the child's consent form in your packet. For a younger child, no consent form is needed from the child.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a South Carolina adoption?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due before the adoption depends on South Carolina law.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adoption in South Carolina?
After the Family Court signs the decree, you request the amended birth certificate from South Carolina DHEC Vital Records. Your packet includes that request, so you know what to send and where.
Go deeper on South Carolina adoption
Every guide is written from South Carolina law.
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in South Carolina?How do I adopt an adult in South Carolina?How old do you have to be to adopt in South Carolina?How much does adult adoption cost in South Carolina?How much does stepparent adoption cost in South Carolina?How long does adult adoption take in South Carolina?
All South Carolina adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in South Carolina?
Join the 942 South Carolina families we have helped, and let us prepare your Family Court documents today.
Start Your South Carolina Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST