Residency wait
No waiting period
West Virginia sets no minimum number of months you must live in the state before you petition.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-201
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$349
Complete West Virginia package
252 West Virginia families helped since 2001
Make Your West Virginia Family Official.West Virginia stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, check every detail and stay with your West Virginia family from the first questions until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete West Virginia package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Abandonment period
6 months
Abandonment of the child for 6 months is a ground that can move a case forward without the other parent's signature.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-306Child's consent
Age 12 and up
A child who is 12 or older gives consent to the adoption, and we prepare that form for you.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-301Home study
Not waived
West Virginia does not waive the home study for stepparents, so we build the paperwork for it into your packet.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-701
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why West Virginia families choose us
We make your West 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 West Virginia Circuit Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
252 West Virginia families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation West Virginia courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A West 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 West Virginia AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Circuit Court. About 3-6 months.
West Virginia handles stepparent adoptions in the Circuit Court under West Virginia Code Chapter 48, Article 22, and most cases take about 3-6 months.
Start here · one short interviewTell us about your family
Start here · one short interview
Tell us about your family
You answer simple questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We turn your answers into West Virginia forms. There is no residency waiting period to count first.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-201Within 24-48 hoursYour documents are ready to file
Within 24-48 hours
Your documents are ready to file
We deliver your complete packet, made for the Circuit Court. You file it with the circuit clerk in your West Virginia county, and our instructions show you each step. The clerk sets the filing fee.
West Virginia Code Chapter 48, Article 22After filingThe other parent signs, or the case goes on without
After filing
The other parent signs, or the case goes on without
If the other parent agrees, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare notice and the abandonment papers, because West Virginia sets the abandonment period at 6 months. A child age 12 or older also consents.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-306Final stepDecree and new birth certificate
Final step
Decree and new birth certificate
The judge signs the decree that makes you the legal parent. We prepare the request for a new birth certificate. The West Virginia Vital Registration Office issues it.
West Virginia Vital Registration OfficeDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a stable two-parent home for the child, 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. West Virginia gives you a clear route either way.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, a signed consent is the quickest route through the Circuit Court. We prepare the consent for you, and it is ready to be signed and filed.
- Consent papers made for West Virginia
- Clear signing instructions for the other parent
- Filed with your petition
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, West Virginia law gives the court a way forward based on abandonment.
- The abandonment period in West Virginia is 6 months.
- A parent who has abandoned the child cannot hold up the adoption by refusing to sign.
- Your case moves forward on the abandonment papers we prepare.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In West Virginia, termination is not a separate lawsuit. It is handled as part of the same adoption case.
W. Va. Code § 48-22-306Abandonment of the child for 6 months lets a West Virginia stepparent adoption move forward without the other parent's signature (W. Va. Code § 48-22-306). We have helped 252 West Virginia families.
One clear price for your West Virginia adoption
Our $349 complete package pays for your finished, court-ready West Virginia documents, our support, and our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
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 West Virginia packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for stepparent adoption, written for the Circuit Court
- Consent papers for the other parent, or the notice and abandonment papers if the parent will not sign
- Consent form for a child age 12 or older
- Paperwork for the West Virginia home study inquiry
- Filing instructions and cover sheets for your county circuit clerk
- Final decree and request for a new birth certificate from the West Virginia Vital Registration Office
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in West Virginia
Any adult who is a West Virginia resident may petition to adopt a person who has reached 18. The statute states no relationship or age-gap condition. The consent of the person being adopted is the only consent necessary. You file in the Circuit Court, or another court of record with jurisdiction over adoptions, and the statute does not spell out a hearing, so we prepare for what your court requires.
Only consentThe adult being adopted
PetitionerMust live in West Virginia
No age gapNone stated in the statute
Where filedCircuit Court or court of record
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed West 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 West Virginia adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what West Virginia courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 55 counties
Filed in your West Virginia county
West Virginia has 55 counties, and each one has a Circuit Court that hears adoptions. Whether you live near Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg or Wheeling, we prepare your packet for your own county.
CharlestonHuntingtonMorgantownParkersburgWheeling+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
West 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.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What West Virginia families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in West Virginia?
You file a petition in the Circuit Court under West Virginia Code Chapter 48, Article 22. We prepare the petition, consents and decree for you, and you file them with your county circuit clerk. West Virginia sets no residency waiting period, and a stepparent adoption cannot be denied solely because you are close in age to the child (W. Va. Code § 48-22-502(e)).
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in West Virginia?
Yes. Any adult West Virginia resident may petition to adopt a person who has reached 18 (W. Va. Code § 48-22-801). The adult's own consent is the only consent necessary. Adult cases often take about 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in West Virginia?
Our complete package is $349, and each additional child is $99. Your county circuit clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. Our documents come in 24-48 hours.
What if the other parent refuses to sign in West Virginia?
Your case can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. West Virginia sets the abandonment period at 6 months (W. Va. Code § 48-22-306), and we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers.
Does West Virginia require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
Yes. West Virginia does not waive the home study for stepparents (W. Va. Code § 48-22-701). We include the paperwork you need for the court's inquiry in your packet, so you know what to expect.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in West Virginia?
A child who is 12 or older must consent (W. Va. Code § 48-22-301). We prepare that consent form for you. For a younger child, no consent from the child is part of the process.
Does the other parent still owe child support after a stepparent adoption in West Virginia?
The duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Whether support that was already past due stays owed depends on West Virginia law and the existing support order.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adopting in West Virginia?
After the judge signs your decree, a request goes to the West Virginia Vital Registration Office. We prepare that request with your final papers. The office then issues a new birth certificate that lists you as the parent.
Go deeper on West Virginia adoption
Every guide is written from West Virginia law.
How do I adopt an adult in West Virginia?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in West Virginia?How old do you have to be to adopt in West Virginia?Is a home study required for stepparent adoption in West Virginia?
All West Virginia adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in West Virginia?
Join the 252 West Virginia families we have helped, and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on your child.
Start Your West Virginia Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST