Adult
Adoption in
Los Angeles
Randall Hicks is an adult adoption attorney with 39 years experience, serving Los Angeles County and beyond. Here you will find a detailed review of California adult adoption laws & procedures, and the timetable and cost. Learn about his experience and credentials - and his unique flat fee - so you know your exact legal fee before you start. 100% success rate. Free Zoom consultation.
FAQs About Adult Adoption
Can you adopt an adult in California?
Yes. The Family Code sections governing adult adoptions in Los Angeles are completely separate from the adoption of minors. The two most basic requirements are that the adoptee is age 18 or over and younger than the adopting parent(s). You can read the complete Family Code covering the adoption of adults here.
Can an adult be adopted by more than one person?
Yes. Many adoptions are by just one person, but there can also be two adopting parents. In most cases this would be a married couple, but by law it is not required that they be married.
Can an adopting parent adopt more than one person?
In California, a person can only adopt one adult within one year. However, there are two key exceptions. If the adoptees are biological siblings, or if the adoptee is disabled, the "one adult adoption a year" rule does not necessarily apply. Family Code section 9303.
Can I do a stepparent adoption of an adult?
Certainly. The most common adult adoption in Los Angeles is adult stepparent adoption. Many families were unable to do a stepparent adoption when the adoptee was a child due to an objection or legal problem with the absent parent. So they wanted to avoid the legal conflict or high cost. When adopting an adult, there is no parental consent required, nor is there a home study of the adopting parent. You can learn more about the legal process here.
How long does adult adoption take? And specifically in Los Angeles?
If you have a prompt adult adoption lawyer, your documents can be prepared within a week or less. After filing, most courts take 2–3 months to complete and grant the adoption. Los Angeles County is very fast, usually taking 3–6 weeks when the attorney is experienced in knowing the fastest way to obtain an adoption hearing.
Why do people choose to do an adult adoption?
For most adopting parents and adoptees, the main reason is emotional. They have a strong feeling of family and want to make it permanent and official. They don't want to just feel like parent and child. They want to be parent and child. There are also technical reasons, such as beneficial legal effects upon inheritance. Adult adoption can also allow the adoptee to make a concurrent legal name change and obtain a new birth certificate.
How much does adult adoption cost?
Randall Hicks charges a total flat legal fee of $2,250 for an adult adoption, including court filing fees, California birth certificate fees, and his other case-related costs. You can learn more about Randy and his fees here.
Do I need an attorney to do an adult adoption in California?
The likelihood that you can complete an adult adoption smoothly and correctly without legal error is quite slim. A typical Los Angeles County adult adoption involves about 10–12 documents, and most are custom legal pleadings rather than forms. The amount of time it would take you to get started, with possible starts and restarts if documents are not accepted by the court, can be substantial. You are creating your legal family, so it is important to have the process completed correctly and efficiently. An experienced Los Angeles adult adoption attorney can handle the legal process for you. You can learn about Randy's qualifications, experience, and flat fee here.
FROM YELP:
★★★★★ Mansour A., October 18, 2025
“Randy helped us with our adoption. He explained all the legal issues to us and answered all our questions. Needless to say, adoption went through without a hitch!"
★★★★★ Emiko H., May 18, 2025
“Mr. Randy Hicks guided my daughter and I through an adult adoption and the process was smooth and efficient. Mr. Randy is a very pleasant fellow. I would recommend his services. Also, he's very quick to respond.”
★★★★★ Holly R., March 17, 2025
"Randy Hicks was very helpful and explained each step and our adoption process went smoothly. We highly recommend him!”
