Home study
Waived
Virginia waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your home.
Va. Code § 63.2-1242
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Complete Virginia package
1,181 Virginia families helped since 2001
Make Your Virginia Family Official.Virginia stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every Virginia form, tell you exactly how to file, and stay on the phone with you until the Circuit Court judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Virginia package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Virginia sets no minimum residency period. You file as a person who resides in the Commonwealth.
Va. Code § 63.2-1201Child's consent
Age 14
A child who is 14 or older must consent to the adoption. We prepare that form.
Va. Code § 63.2-1202Abandonment
Six months
Abandonment of the child for six months is a recognized ground to go forward without that parent's consent.
Va. Code § 63.2-1202(H)
100%Court acceptance
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Why Virginia families choose us
We make your Virginia 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 Virginia Circuit Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
1,181 Virginia families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Virginia courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Virginia 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 Virginia AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Circuit Court. About three to six months.
In Virginia your case goes through the Circuit Court, and the whole process for a stepparent usually takes 3-6 months.
Day oneTell us about your Virginia family
Day one
Tell us about your Virginia family
Answer our plain-language questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We use your answers to build every form for Virginia. You can do it from your phone or computer.
Code of Virginia Title 63.2, Chapter 12Within 24-48 hoursFile with the Circuit Court clerk
Within 24-48 hours
File with the Circuit Court clerk
Your finished documents arrive in 24-48 hours with filing instructions for the Circuit Court clerk in your county or city. The clerk sets the filing fee. Virginia waives the home study, so there is no home visit to schedule.
Va. Code § 63.2-1242While the case is pendingThe other parent signs, or notice goes out
While the case is pending
The other parent signs, or notice goes out
If the other parent agrees, they sign a consent. If not, we prepare the notice papers, which are a routine step. A child who is 14 or older also signs a consent.
Va. Code § 63.2-1202Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The judge reviews your case and signs the final decree. We then help you request the new birth certificate from the Virginia Division of Vital Records.
Virginia Division of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. 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, and the judge approved the adoption anyway.
They agree
When the other parent is willing, the consent route is the simplest one. They sign once, we prepare the form, and your Virginia Circuit Court case moves along quickly.
- We prepare the consent form for the Circuit Court
- The other parent signs it, and it goes in your filing
- Fewer steps before your final hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Virginia law still gives the court a way to approve your adoption.
- Virginia sets the abandonment period at six months.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for six months does not have to consent.
- When the child has been abandoned for six months, you can move forward without the other parent's consent.
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Virginia, termination is not a separate case, because it is handled as part of the same adoption case.
Va. Code § 63.2-1202(H)We have helped 1,181 families in Virginia.
One flat price, and Virginia has no home study cost
A Virginia family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus the court's own filing fee, with nothing else added.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What families tell us
★★★★★
Sending you a quick note that the publication was finally completed and the Judge signed my adoption. You guys stayed with me through the whole process. Thanks. I didn't know what to do when the father disappeared. Thanks for helping me through the process
★★★★★
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.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Virginia packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption, prepared for the Virginia Circuit Court
- Other parent's consent form, or notice and abandonment papers if the other parent will not sign
- Consent form for a child who is 14 or older
- No home study needed, because Virginia waives it in stepparent adoptions
- Cover sheet and filing instructions for your Circuit Court clerk
- Final decree of adoption and your new birth certificate request for the Virginia Division of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Virginia
A Virginia resident can adopt an adult who fits one of four categories, including a stepchild the petitioner has stood in loco parentis for at least 3 months. The adult being adopted must consent. No consent of either parent is required. The case is filed in Circuit Court, and the home study is not made unless the court requires it. Adult cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Who petitionsA Virginia resident
Adoptee consentAlways required
Parent consentNot required
Where filedCircuit Court
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Virginia 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 Virginia adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Virginia courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 133 counties/cities
Wherever you live in Virginia
Virginia has 133 counties/cities, and we prepare your papers for the Circuit Court where you will file. Families in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond and Newport News use the same simple process.
Virginia BeachNorfolkChesapeakeRichmondNewport News+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Virginia 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 Virginia families ask us
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Virginia?
You file a petition in the Virginia Circuit Court, and the case is governed by Code of Virginia Title 63.2, Chapter 12. We prepare every form for $349, with documents ready in 24-48 hours. Most stepparent cases take about 3-6 months from filing to decree.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia allows a resident to adopt an adult stepchild they have stood in loco parentis for at least 3 months. The adult must consent, and no parent's consent is required (Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1243). These cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does stepparent adoption cost in Virginia?
Our complete Virginia package is $349, and each additional child is $99. The Circuit Court clerk sets the filing fee, so call the clerk's office to confirm it. The home study is waived, so you do not pay for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Virginia?
You can still adopt. Virginia recognizes abandonment for six months as a ground to go forward without consent (Va. Code § 63.2-1202(H)). In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. We prepare the notice, which is a routine step.
Does Virginia require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
No home study is required, because Virginia waives it in stepparent adoptions (Va. Code § 63.2-1242). There is no social worker visit to schedule.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Virginia?
A child who is 14 or older must consent (Va. Code § 63.2-1202). We prepare the consent form for you. For a younger child, no consent form is needed.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Virginia stepparent 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 Virginia law. Your decree ends the other parent's legal role from that day on.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adopting in Virginia?
After the judge signs your final decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Virginia Division of Vital Records. We prepare the request with your decree packet. The new certificate lists you as the parent.
Go deeper on Virginia adoption
Every guide is written from Virginia law.
How do I adopt an adult in Virginia?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Virginia?How old do you have to be to adopt in Virginia?How much does it cost to adopt my stepchild in Virginia if the bio parent agrees?How much does adult adoption cost in Virginia?
All Virginia adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Virginia?
Join the 1,181 Virginia families we have helped, and let us get your Circuit Court papers ready with our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
Start Your Virginia Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST