Home study
Waived
Washington DC waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your house.
D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2)
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$349
Complete Washington DC package
71 Washington DC families helped since 2001
Make Your Washington DC Family Official.Washington DC stepparent & adult adoption, done for you, court-ready documents for the Superior Court in 24-48 hours
We prepare every document, check every detail, and stay on the phone with your family until the Superior Court judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Washington DC package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No minimum wait
Washington DC sets no minimum number of months you must live here before you file.
D.C. Code § 16-301(b)Child's consent
Age 14
A child who is 14 or older must agree to the adoption in writing.
D.C. Code § 16-304Abandonment
6 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months does not have to sign for the adoption to go forward.
D.C. Code § 16-304
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Washington DC families choose us
We make your Washington DC 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 Washington DC Superior Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
71 Washington DC families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Washington DC courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Washington DC 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 Washington DC AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Superior Court. About 3-6 months.
Washington DC is one district with one court, so every stepparent adoption is filed in the Superior Court and follows the same path.
Day one · A short questionnaireTell us about your family
Day one · A short questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer a short questionnaire about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We build your Washington DC documents from your answers. Most families finish this in one sitting.
District of Columbia Code Title 16, Chapter 324-48 hours · Documents readyFile with the Superior Court
24-48 hours · Documents ready
File with the Superior Court
Your court-ready packet arrives in 24-48 hours. You file it with the Superior Court, the only court for adoptions in the district. There is no minimum residency period to wait out first, and the home study is waived.
D.C. Code § 16-301(b)While your case is open · Other parentThe other parent signs or is given notice
While your case is open · Other parent
The other parent signs or is given notice
If the other parent agrees, they sign a written consent. If not, we prepare the notice, and the court can proceed when the parent has abandoned the child for 6 months. Your child signs consent too if 14 or older.
D.C. Code § 16-304About 3-6 months · Final stepDecree and new birth certificate
About 3-6 months · Final step
Decree and new birth certificate
The judge reviews your case and signs the adoption decree. We then prepare your request for an amended birth certificate to send to the DC Department of Health Vital Records.
DC Department of Health Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. The Superior Court wants your stepchild in 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
When the other parent is willing, the route is simple. They sign a written consent, and we prepare it for you.
- Consent is written and signed before an authorized officer
- We prepare the form and the signing instructions
- Your case moves faster with a signed consent
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Washington DC law gives the court a clear ground to proceed.
- A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months does not need to consent
- The court can approve the adoption without that parent's signature
Notice to the other parent is routine, and we prepare it for you. In Washington DC, termination is not a separate case. It is handled within the same adoption petition.
D.C. Code § 16-304Most families we help finish without the other parent's signature. When a parent has abandoned the child for 6 months, the Superior Court can approve the adoption without that parent's consent.
One flat price, and no home study bill in Washington DC
A Washington DC family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, and nothing extra 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 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!
★★★★★
I just wanted to let you know that Steve adopted Payton on Tuesday and I did give them your address to send a copy to. Thank you so much and when we get the paperwork and we have any questions we will give you a call.It was a very awesome day and we want to thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
★★★★★
We just completed our stepparent adoption, and I have to say, the entire process was easier than I ever imagined. The forms were thorough and well-prepared, and when I had a question, your team was quick to respond with clear and helpful answers. The judge finalized our case today, and we couldn’t be happier! Thank you for everything you’ve done for our family.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Washington DC packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- Other parent's consent, or the abandonment and notice papers if the parent will not sign
- Your child's written consent, if your child is 14 or older
- Your spouse's consent and supporting statements
- Step-by-step instructions for filing your packet with the Superior Court
- Final adoption decree and the new birth certificate request for the DC Department of Health Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Washington DC
Washington DC allows adoption of a person whether a minor or an adult. The adult you want to adopt must consent. Your spouse must join the petition, or only consent if your spouse is the adult's natural parent. You file in the Superior Court, the court waives the home study for an adult adoptee, and these cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
Adult consentThe adoptee must agree
No home studyWaived for adult adoptees
No age gapNone stated in the law
Spouse joinsOr consents if the parent
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Washington DC 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 Washington DC adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Washington DC courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 1 district
One district, one court for your case
Washington DC has 1 district and no counties, so your case goes to the Superior Court whether you live in Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan. We prepare your papers for that court and you never have to guess where to file.
WashingtonGeorgetownCapitol HillDupont CircleAdams Morgan+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Washington DC 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 Washington DC families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Washington DC?
You file an adoption petition with the Superior Court. The other parent consents, or the court proceeds on abandonment grounds. We prepare every document for $349, and we have helped 71 Washington DC families. The whole process takes about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Washington DC?
Yes. Washington DC allows a person to be adopted whether a minor or an adult (D.C. Code § 16-303). The adult must consent, and the home study is waived. These cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Washington DC?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The Superior Court clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. There is no home study fee because Washington DC waives it.
What if the other parent refuses to sign in Washington DC?
You can still adopt. A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months does not need to consent (D.C. Code § 16-304). In our experience, about 80% of our stepparent adoptions went forward without the other parent's consent. We prepare the notice for you.
Is a home study required for a stepparent adoption in Washington DC?
No. Washington DC waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (D.C. Code § 16-308(a)(2)). No social worker has to visit your home, which saves you time and money.
Does my child have to agree to a stepparent adoption in Washington DC?
If your child is 14 or older, yes. The child's written consent is required (D.C. Code § 16-304). Younger children are not asked to sign. We include the consent form in your packet.
Does a Washington DC stepparent adoption end child support?
Yes, going forward. Once the adoption is final, the other parent's duty to pay future child support ends. Whether past-due support is still owed depends on Washington DC law.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Washington DC?
Yes. After the Superior Court signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the DC Department of Health Vital Records. We prepare that request with your final papers.
Go deeper on Washington DC adoption
Every guide is written from Washington DC law.
How old do you have to be to adopt in Washington DC?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Washington DC?How do I adopt an adult in Washington DC?Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Washington DC?
All Washington DC adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Washington DC?
Join the 71 Washington DC families we have helped, and let us prepare your Superior Court papers today.
Start Your Washington DC Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST