Family bonds do not stop growing when a child turns 18. If you have built a meaningful relationship with someone and are wondering if you can you adopt a 20 year old, the answer is yes.
Adopting an adult is a highly accessible, legally recognized process. It allows you to establish a permanent parent-child relationship under the law. While you can legally adopt an adult, the specific eligibility requirements and procedures vary depending on the state where you live.
Does Age Matter in Adult Adoption?
In the eyes of the law, turning 18 changes the entire legal framework for formalizing family.
Because a 20-year-old has reached the age of majority, they are treated like any other adult for adoption purposes.
The focus of the legal process shifts entirely away from child welfare reviews and custody evaluations. Instead, the court focuses on the mutual, informed consent of two adults who want to formalize their family bond.
Adult Adoption Requirements Vary by State
While the core of the process is mutual consent, adult adoption requirements vary significantly from state to state.
Both the adopting parent and the adult adoptee must provide full consent and receive court approval.
Depending on your jurisdiction’s specific adult adoption laws us, there may be additional requirements to fulfill.
These can include proving local residency, providing formal notice to certain family members, or obtaining consent from the adoptee’s spouse if they are married.
Do I Need My Biological Parents’ Permission?
Because the person being adopted is a legal adult, the termination of biological parental rights is no longer necessary.
Adopting an adult generally requires the complete consent of the adult adoptee, but it does not require permission from their biological parents.
While biological parents do not need to consent, a few states may require that they receive formal notice of the adoption proceedings.
Why Do Adults Choose Adult Adoption?
There are many deeply personal reasons for adult adoption. Most often, families use this process to formally recognize a stepparent or foster parent bond that has existed in their hearts for decades.
Another primary motivation includes the benefits of adult adoption regarding inheritance planning. Adult adoption allows a loved one to be legally recognized as a direct heir, securing their financial future within the family structure.
How to Adopt a 20 Year Old
The adult adoption process is generally much simpler than adopting a minor. The journey typically begins by filing an adoption petition with your local family court. Next, you will submit the required written consent forms from both parties.
Because lengthy home studies and waiting periods are typically waived, it often only takes a few months to attend a brief court hearing and receive a final adoption order signed by a judge.
What Legal Rights Change After Adult Adoption?
Once finalized, the adult adoptee becomes the legal child of the adoptive parent for all purposes. The adoptee gains the same automatic inheritance rights as a biological child of the adoptive parent.
The adoptee’s legal ties to their biological parents are generally severed, meaning they usually lose automatic inheritance rights from their biological family.
After the final order is issued, the state can amend the adoptee’s birth certificate to reflect their new legal name and list their adoptive parents.
Get Help With Adoption After Turning 18
Every path to parenthood is unique, and no one should have to navigate complex state laws alone. Whether you are adopting an adult stepchild or honoring a lifelong mentor, your family’s story deserves clarity and protection.
At Foster + Bloom, we are the nation’s most experienced law firm dedicated exclusively to family-building. With more than 185 years of combined experience, our attorneys bring unmatched knowledge to every case.
We are here to help you understand state-specific requirements, prepare your petitions, and move through the legal steps with confidence.
If you want to know more, contact our team today to schedule a consultation.