Home study
Waived
Tennessee does not require a home study in a stepparent adoption, which saves you time and stress.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-116
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Complete Tennessee package
967 Tennessee families helped since 2001
Make Your Tennessee Family Official.Tennessee stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Chancery or Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file in your Tennessee county, and stay with you by phone until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Tennessee package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
No waiting period
There is no minimum number of months you must live in Tennessee before filing.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-115Child's consent
Age 14
A child who is 14 or older must give consent to the adoption.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-117Abandonment period
Four months
A parent who abandons the child for four months can lose parental rights under Tennessee law.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Tennessee families choose us
We make your Tennessee 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 Tennessee Chancery/Circuit and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
967 Tennessee families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Tennessee courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Tennessee 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 Tennessee AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. About 3-6 months.
Tennessee handles stepparent adoption in Chancery or Circuit Court, and most families finish in about 3-6 months.
Day oneTell us about your family
Day one
Tell us about your family
Answer our simple questions online or by phone at (855) 924-0450. We use your answers to build every Tennessee form you need. Your documents are ready in 24-48 hours.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-115After your documents arriveFile with your county Chancery or Circuit Court
After your documents arrive
File with your county Chancery or Circuit Court
You file in the Chancery or Circuit Court clerk's office, and venue includes the county where you live. We tell you what to bring and how to file. You must live in Tennessee when you file, but there is no waiting period in months.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-114After filingThe other parent signs, or the court decides
After filing
The other parent signs, or the court decides
If the other parent will sign, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment grounds. Notice is a routine step, and termination is handled in the same case.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The judge signs the final decree of adoption. We give you the request for the new birth certificate. You send it to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records.
Tennessee Office of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a 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. You do not need that signature to move ahead.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the consent route is the quickest. We prepare the consent papers and you simply have them signed.
- We draft the written consent for you
- Nothing extra to file for termination
- Often the fastest path to your hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, the court can still move forward when that parent has abandoned the child for four months.
- Abandonment of the child for four months is a ground to end parental rights
- The abandonment rule is set out in Tennessee Code Annotated Title 36, Chapter 1
- A parent who has abandoned the child for four months does not hold up the adoption
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Tennessee, termination is not a separate case, because it is part of the same adoption case.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113In Tennessee, a parent's abandonment of the child for four months lets your stepparent adoption move forward without that parent's signature. We have helped 967 Tennessee families.
One clear price, plus your county's court fee
Families pay $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, and the court filing fee goes to the clerk.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Tennessee families tell us
★★★★★
Just wanted to let you know that our adoption was finalized today! We never could have afforded an attorney, and your service made this possible for us. Everything went smoothly in court, and the judge even asked where we had gotten our paperwork because it was so well done. I’ll be recommending you to anyone I know looking to complete an adoption!
★★★★★
Saw the Judge this morning. She signed the documents. Everything went fine, and am glad this is all behind us now. Couldn't have done this without your help. Your continued support throughout the process is the only way I could have completed this adoption. You render a valuable service over there. Thanks.
★★★★★
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.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Tennessee packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption prepared for the Chancery or Circuit Court in your county
- Consent papers, or the abandonment grounds within your adoption case if the other parent will not sign
- Notice documents for the other parent, prepared by us
- Child's written consent form if your child is 14 or older
- Filing instructions and hearing checklist for your county clerk
- Final decree of adoption and the new birth certificate request for the Tennessee Office of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Tennessee is simpler
Tennessee allows an adult to be adopted, with no relationship or age-gap condition. The adult signs a sworn, written consent. If the adult has been found incompetent by a court, the conservator consents. If there is no conservator and the court believes the adult is incompetent, a guardian ad litem is appointed to give or withhold consent. You file in Chancery or Circuit Court in the county where you live, and no home study is needed. If you have a living spouse who is competent to join, your spouse must join the petition. Most adult adoptions take about 4-8 weeks.
ConsentAdult signs sworn consent
Home studyWaived for adults
Age gapNone in the statute
Your spouseJoins if living and competent to join
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Tennessee 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 Tennessee adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Tennessee courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 95 counties
All 95 Tennessee counties, one simple process
Tennessee has 95 counties, and your case is filed in the Chancery or Circuit Court. Whether you live in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga or Clarksville, we prepare your papers for your local court.
NashvilleMemphisKnoxvilleChattanoogaClarksville+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Tennessee 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 Tennessee families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Tennessee?
You file a petition in the Chancery or Circuit Court, and you must be over eighteen to petition (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-115(a)). We prepare the petition, the consent or notice papers, and the decree. These cases usually take about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee allows an adult to be adopted (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-107). The adult signs a sworn, written consent, and no home study is needed (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-117(j)). Adult cases often take about 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Tennessee?
Our complete package is $349, and each additional child is $99. Your county clerk sets the Chancery or Circuit Court filing fee, so call the clerk's office to confirm it. The home study is $0 because Tennessee waives it.
What if the other parent refuses to sign in Tennessee?
Most families do not need that signature. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Tennessee recognizes abandonment of four months as a ground (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113), and we prepare the notice for you.
Does Tennessee require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No. Tennessee waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-116). That means no social worker visits your home for this case. We include everything else the court needs in your packet.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Tennessee?
If your child is 14 or older, yes. Tennessee requires that child's consent (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-117). We include the consent form in your packet. A younger child does not sign.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Tennessee adoption?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Past-due support depends on Tennessee law. Your decree ends the legal parent-child relationship with the other parent.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Tennessee?
Yes. After the judge signs the final decree, you request the new birth certificate from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. We include the request form in your packet and tell you how to send it.
Go deeper on Tennessee adoption
Every guide is written from Tennessee law.
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Tennessee?How old do you have to be to adopt in Tennessee?How do I adopt an adult in Tennessee?How much does adult adoption cost in Tennessee?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Tennessee?
All Tennessee adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Tennessee?
967 Tennessee families have trusted us with their papers, and we are ready to prepare yours so you can focus on your family.
Start Your Tennessee Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST