Is it possible to adopt an 18 year old

Considering Adoption? We can help. Adult adoptions are more common than ever, and they can occur in a wide range of situations. Stepparents often adopt their grown stepchildren, and foster parents often adopt their long-time foster children when they reach 18 years of age. Adult adoption makes sense in other situations, including:.

Some issues to think about:. With more than 30 years of adoption experience, our board certified adoption specialists can walk you through the process of adopting an adult. If you decide to move forward, we can make it happen for you. Their focus is on friends, independence and freedom. What does adoption mean to people? Adoption should have been discussed throughout their lifetime, the process explained and questions answered.

There may still be unknown information and thoughts of searching for that information or a reunion with the birth family. As they leave and move into the world of college and adult relationships, the excitement of being on their own is shadowed by separation from the family. Updated March Delaware Courts. Adoption Overview. Nevada State Legislature. Adoption of Children and Adults. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Other Adoption-Related Immigration. Updated November 1, Your Privacy Rights.

To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Maybe you finally found that son you've always wanted, but he just so happens to be Or maybe you were reunited with your birth mother and want to make her your official, legal mom.

But adoption is just for babies and little kids, right? Who has a brand new daughter that's over 21? Regardless of what you think, it is both legal and possible to adopt yourself a healthy, bouncing grownup. In many cases, your new, adult family member must simply be a legal adult and voluntarily agree to the adoption.

Adoption is the same legal process whether the individual is a child or an adult. The court issues a new birth certificate for the adopted individual and any existing legal relationships with biological or custodial parents are severed.

The adopted adult can change his or her last name, also called a surname change, and all adoption records will be sealed. The most common reason to adopt an adult is for inheritance purposes. In this case, adult adoption allows someone to leave property or financial assets to the adopted individual more easily. For example, parents can adopt a now adult foster child or stepchild. Adult adoption is a popular option for biological parents as well as for children who find their birth family and wish to be formally acknowledged or fathers who find children they didn't know they had.

Finally, adult adoptions often occur to provide perpetual care for an adult who has a diminished capacity or disability. Such adult adoptions can assume responsibility for a mentally disabled or challenged individual, or someone who is physically disabled. Through the adoption process, one adult can become the responsible party and decisionmaker for another adult's care. Guidelines and requirements for adult adoptions vary between states.