Adult Adoption

Adoption of an adult is permissible in New Jersey as long as the adoptive parent or parents are of good moral character and of reputable standing in the community, and the adoption will be to the advantage and benefit of the person to be adopted. The New Jersey statute requires that the adopting parent or parents must be at least 10 years older than the person to be adopted, and the person to be adopted must request the adoption in a notarized writing. The court has the discretion, however, to waive both the age requirement and the requirement of a written notarized request by the person to be adopted, if it is satisfied that the best interest of the person to be adopted will be promoted by the adoption.

Adult adoptions are commonly initiated to transfer and secure inheritance rights through intestacy or to create a legal parent-child relationship between a stepchild and his or her stepparent, or a foster child and his or her foster parent or parents. But many adult adoptions are filed by adopting parents who are neither foster parents nor related to the person to be adopted.

If you are considering an adult adoption, please feel free to contact my firm. My firm covers nearby Morris, Essex, Warren, Somerset, Union, Passaic, Hunterdon and Sussex Counties, as well as Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth and Mercer counties. However, no matter where you reside in the State, my firm can represent you. There is no additional cost to you based on your location.