Is an adult adoption possible if the adopter and the adoptee live in different states?

Question

I am 36 years old and I would like my stepmom to adopt me. My natural mother is deceased and I have a strong emotional connection to my stepmom. I really want to honor her and our relationship because she has been such a positive guiding force in my life. I live in AZ where adult adoptions are prohibited and she lives in CA where they are allowed. (1) Is it still possible? (2) What do I have to do to get the process started? (3) How much does it cost?

Answer 1

Shop around for attorney prices, which can be considerably cheaper if you do.  You will have to travel to court to be heard before the judge, and laws will have to be researched.  My fiance started adoption process of his former step son (a relationship that was not allowed), and the attorney was going to charge $275, including filing.  We had 95% of the paperwork typed and done when we went to see her, along with all pertinent forms, such as birth certificate, etc.

A friend of ours had a similar situation, and on mother's day, had a ceremony at church, with a fake "birth certificate" with words like born in my heart.  In their case, it didn't need to be legal, but was an emotional ceremony done to honor the step-mom.  Kind of like a fake wedding ceremony.  It would still need to be done though to document wishes, such as if in yours or her case if one ended up in the hospital for the other to sign papers, power of attorney, and legal wills done.

Answer 2

yea i know a couple who adopted a girl from Peru, and thats a diffent country!! i thinnk you can,  

i hope ive answered ur question good enough i didnt do much research so that just my opinion

Answer 3

Absolutely you can do it if you are in two different states.  While most states require that minors can only be adopted in their state of residence, adult adoptions do not have that requirement and CA specifically states that the adoption proceedings can be filed by either party in either state of residence.

I believe you need to start with the County Clerk to get the paperwork. A lawyer is not required.  As far as cost, the highest cost I have ever heard was $500.  Most filing fees and paperwork are more in the $250-350 range in most states. Now that was 4 years ago. Fees may have changed.

Good for you and congratulations!

Answer 4

yes, my husbands step-dad adopted him when he was 20 and he lives in New York and my husband lives in Colorado.  So I know it certainly is possible, I'm not really sure of the process though.