ADULT ADOPTION LAWS
Adult adoption attorney, Randall Hicks
Below you can find our state's Adult Adoption statutes governing Los Angeles County. Be aware, however, that even if you fully understand them all, sometimes there are situations where the laws governing adult adoption are not deemed complete enough in a specific legal area, so the much larger Adoption of Unmarried Minors section of the California Family Code may also apply, as well as other code sections, such as the Civil Code or Code of Civil Procedure. Also, there is sometimes case law that can impact the interpretation of statutes.
So while the code sections below are helpful and interesting to review, please understand it is not the final word on every aspect of adult adoption. That is part of what makes an adult adoption lawyer's job complex. It is not only understanding and implementing all of our state's adult adoption laws and procedures, and other related codes but also knowing how each individual county is unique, such as requiring its own unique documents in addition to the "usual" adult adoption pleadings, and other filing requirements.
All of Los Angeles County's adult adoptions are heard in the Edelman Children's Courthouse, located at 201 Centre Plaza Drive Monterey Park, CA 91754. Yes, it is the "Children's Court" but that is also where they do all adult adoptions for Los Angeles County. We are extremely lucky to have an excellent clerical staff and judges handling adoptions at the court.
To learn more about adult adoption in everyday language, rather than the sometimes complex codes below, you may with to review my FAQs here and here.
Family Code - FAM
DIVISION 13. ADOPTION [8500 - 9340]
( Division 13 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. )
PART 3. ADOPTION OF ADULTS AND MARRIED MINORS [9300 - 9340]
( Part 3 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. )
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [9300 - 9307]
( Chapter 1 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. )
9300.
(a) An adult may be adopted by another adult, including a stepparent, as provided in this part.
(b) A married minor may be adopted in the same manner as an adult under this part.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 266, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)
9301.
A married person who is not lawfully separated from the person’s spouse may not adopt an adult without the consent of the spouse, provided that the spouse is capable of giving that consent.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9302.
(a) A married person who is not lawfully separated from the person’s spouse may not be adopted without the consent of the spouse, provided that the spouse is capable of giving that consent.
(b) The consent of the parents of the proposed adoptee, of the department, or of any other person is not required.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9303.
(a) Except as permitted by the court, upon a finding of good cause, a person shall not adopt more than one unrelated adult pursuant to this part within one year of the person’s adoption of an unrelated adult unless the proposed adoptee is the biological sibling of a person previously adopted pursuant to this part or unless the proposed adoptee is disabled or physically handicapped. An order finding good cause shall be in writing or stated on the record.
(b) Except as permitted by the court, upon a finding of good cause, a person shall not adopt an unrelated adult pursuant to this part within one year of an adoption of another person pursuant to this part by the prospective adoptive parent’s spouse unless the proposed adoptee is a biological sibling of a person previously adopted pursuant to this part. An order finding good cause shall be in writing or stated on the record.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 478, Sec. 22. (AB 1756) Effective January 1, 2024.)
9304.
A person adopted pursuant to this part may take the family name of the adoptive parent.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9305.
After adoption, the adoptee and the adoptive parent or parents shall sustain towards each other the legal relationship of parent and child and have all the rights and are subject to all the duties of that relationship.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9306.
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the birth parents of a person adopted pursuant to this part are, from the time of the adoption, relieved of all parental duties towards, and all responsibility for, the adopted person, and have no right over the adopted person.
(b) If an adult is adopted by the spouse of a birth parent, the parental rights and responsibilities of that birth parent are not affected by the adoption.
(c) An adult being adopted pursuant to this part may waive the termination of the parental duties and responsibilities of an existing parent or parents under subdivision (a) by signing a waiver at any time prior to the finalization of the adoption. The waiver may be included in the adoption agreement or in a separate writing filed with the court.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 192, Sec. 3. (AB 1373) Effective January 1, 2020.)
9307.
A hearing with regard to adoption under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 9320) or termination of a parent and child relationship under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 9340) may, in the discretion of the court, be open and public.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
CHAPTER 2. Procedure for Adult Adoption [9320 - 9328]
( Chapter 2 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. )
9320.
(a) An adult may adopt another adult who is younger, except the spouse of the prospective adoptive parent, by an adoption agreement approved by the court, as provided in this chapter.
(b) The adoption agreement shall be in writing, executed by the prospective adoptive parent and the proposed adoptee, and shall state that the parties agree to assume toward each other the legal relationship of parent and child and to have all of the rights and be subject to all of the duties and responsibilities of that relationship.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9321.
(a) The prospective adoptive parent and the proposed adoptee may file in the county in which either person resides a petition for approval of the adoption agreement.
(b) The petition for approval of the adoption agreement shall state all of the following:
(1) The length and nature of the relationship between the prospective adoptive parent and the proposed adoptee.
(2) The degree of kinship, if any.
(3) The reason the adoption is sought.
(4) A statement as to why the adoption would be in the best interest of the prospective adoptive parent, the proposed adoptee, and the public.
(5) The names and addresses of any living birth parents or adult children of the proposed adoptee.
(6) Whether the prospective adoptive parent or the prospective adoptive parent’s spouse has previously adopted any other adult and, if so, the name of the adult, together with the date and place of the adoption.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9321.5.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 9321, a person who is a resident of this state may file a petition for adult adoption with the court in any of the following:
(1) The county in which the prospective adoptive parent resides.
(2) The county in which the proposed adoptee was born or resides at the time the petition was filed.
(3) The county in which an office of the public or private agency that placed the proposed adoptee for foster care or adoption as a minor or dependent child is located.
(b) A petitioner who is not a resident of this state may file a petition for adult adoption with the court in a county specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).
(Added by renumbering Section 9213 by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 48. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)
9322.
When the petition for approval of the adoption agreement is filed, the court clerk shall set the matter for hearing.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9323.
The court may require notice of the time and place of the hearing to be served on any other interested person and any interested person may appear and object to the proposed adoption.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9324.
Both the prospective adoptive parent and the proposed adoptee shall appear at the hearing in person, unless the court allows otherwise pursuant to Section 8613.5.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 159, Sec. 10. (AB 2495) Effective January 1, 2023.)
9325.
No investigation or report to the court by any public officer or agency is required, but the court may require the county probation officer or the department to investigate the circumstances of the proposed adoption and report thereon, with recommendations, to the court before the hearing.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9326.
The prospective adoptive parent shall mail or personally serve notice of the hearing and a copy of the petition to the director of the regional center for the developmentally disabled, established pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 4620) of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to any living birth parents or adult children of the proposed adoptee, at least 30 days before the day of the hearing on an adoption petition in any case in which both of the following conditions exist:
(a) The proposed adoptee is an adult with developmental disabilities.
(b) The prospective adoptive parent is a provider of board and care, treatment, habilitation, or other services to persons with developmental disabilities or is a spouse or employee of a provider.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9327.
If the prospective adoptive parent is a provider of board and care, treatment, habilitation, or other services to persons with developmental disabilities, or is a spouse or employee of a provider, and seeks to adopt an unrelated adult with developmental disabilities, the regional center for the developmentally disabled notified pursuant to Section 9326 shall file a written report with the court regarding the suitability of the proposed adoption in meeting the needs of the proposed adoptee and regarding any known previous adoption by the prospective adoptive parent.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
9328.
(a) At the hearing the court shall examine the parties, or the counsel of any party not present in person.
(b) If the court is satisfied that the adoption will be in the best interests of the persons seeking the adoption and in the public interest and that there is no reason why the petition should not be granted, the court shall approve the adoption agreement and make an order of adoption declaring that the person adopted is the child of the adoptive parent. Otherwise, the court shall withhold approval of the agreement and deny the petition.
(c) In determining whether or not the adoption of any person pursuant to this part is in the best interests of the persons seeking the adoption or the public interest, the court may consider evidence, oral or written, whether or not it is in conformity with the Evidence Code.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
CHAPTER 3. Procedure for Terminating Adult Adoption [9340- 9340.]
( Chapter 3 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. )
9340.
(a) Any person who has been adopted under this part may, upon written notice to the adoptive parent, file a petition to terminate the relationship of parent and child. The petition shall state the name and address of the petitioner, the name and address of the adoptive parent, the date and place of the adoption, and the circumstances upon which the petition is based.
(b) If the adoptive parent consents in writing to the termination, an order terminating the relationship of parent and child may be issued by the court without further notice.
(c) If the adoptive parent does not consent in writing to the termination, a written response shall be filed within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice, and the matter shall be set for hearing. The court may require an investigation by the county probation officer or the department.
(Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)
To view the official California laws on the subject of adult adoption, adoption of minors, and related code sections, click here.