Stepparent Adoption
EA is a fully-licensed private adoption agency.
When a stepparent wants to adopt their spouse's child, the process needs to be filed with the local county superior court. Our license enables us to help with court documentation and conduct court investigative reports.
What is the process for a stepparent adoption?
A stepparent adoption consists of two to three home visits by an EA Social Worker, background information on the stepparent, and additional information for an investigative report.
Do I have to pay to adopt my stepchild?
Yes, there is a fee associated with this adoption service. This varies from county to county, but is typically between $700 and $1000.
Why does a stepparent adoption need an investigative report?
The local county superior court must make a determination to ensure the adoption is in the child's best interest. Due to this determination, a criminal history check of the adoptive parent is conducted via fingerprinting.
If the adoptive parent has lived in California for less than five years, the criminal history check must also be conducted from the prior state of residence.
The investigative report, also known as a home study in public and private adoptions, will combine the history of the prospective adoptive parent and their ability to parent their stepchild. The investigative report is filed with the stepparent court documentation.
EA can complete this investigative report for you. For an additional fee, we can also complete the court documents for your family.