Before you begin:
What laws apply? An adult may adopt another adult so long as:
- The person adopting is at least 10 years older than the person being adopted; AND
- One of the adults lives in Nevada; AND
- If either of the adults is married, their spouse will sign and notarize a consent.
What is the process? Both of the adults must sign and file some paperwork, and then usually go to a hearing where a judge can ask some questions (the parties can request to waive the hearing if desired). The biological parents do not have to consent, but the judge may require them (or anyone else) to be notified of the hearing date.
Follow these steps to file to adopt an adult:
1. Fill out the forms. There are a few forms you must fill out.
2. File the forms. File these at the local District Court.
3. Publish the Notice (if required). You may need to publish a notice if requesting a name change.
4. Attend the adoption hearing.
5. Contact Vital Statistics. You'll need to update the birth certificate.
Step 1. Fill out the forms
Cover Sheet
This form is REQUIRED. This form asks for basic information about the parties. Both adults are co-petitioners.
Family Cover Sheet (pdf fillable)
Petition for Adoption
This form is REQUIRED.
This form tells the judge about the adoptive parent(s) and the person to be adopted. The adult can request a name change if desired (if you do, a notice of the name change will have to be published in the newspaper one time). The adoptive parent(s) and the person to be adopted all have to sign this form.
One or two people can ask to adopt the adult.
Petition for Adoption (pdf fillable)
Notice of Petition for Name Change (if applicable)
If the adoptee wants to change his/her name, fill out this form. This form will need to be published in a newspaper one time before the court date (this is explained further in Step 3 below).
Notice of Petition for Name Change (pdf fillable)
Notice of Petition for Name Change (pdf)
Spouse Consents (if applicable)
If the adoptive parent or adoptee is married, their spouse(s) must sign and notarize a consent agreeing to the adoption.
Spouse's Consent to Adoption (pdf fillable)
Spouse's Consent to Adoption (pdf)
2. File the forms
File the completed papers with the district court in the county where either the adoptive parent or adoptee resides. Visit Find My Court if you are not sure where your local district court is located.
The court will charge you a filing fee to file your papers. The fee is different in every county. Find out from your local court what the filing fee will be.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, please see Filing Fees and Waivers to find out how to ask the court to waive the fee.
3. Publish the Notice of Name Change (if requested)
If the adoptee wants to change their name, the court may require you to publish the Notice of Petition of Name Change in the newspaper one time. Contact a newspaper to arrange for publication.
After publication is complete, the newspaper will prepare an "Affidavit of Publication." Ensure this document is filed with the court as proof that publication was completed.
4. Attend the adoption hearing!
Plan for all parties and their spouses to attend. This is a special occasion and any other friends or family are welcome to attend too!
At the hearing, the judge will usually ask some questions to make sure all of the requirements are met. The hearing is usually short, lasting no more than 10 minutes. At the end of the hearing, the judge will be able to sign the Order of Adoption. It may be helpful if you fill it out ahead of time and let the judge know you brought the Order with you:
Order of Adoption (pdf fillable)
5. Contact Vital Statistics.
Contact Vital Statistics in the state where the adoptee was born to find out how to get the birth certificate changed.
If the adoptee was born in Nevada, do the following:
- Visit the Nevada Vital Records forms page and download the "Report of Adoption."
- Fill out part 1 and 2. Bring the form to the courthouse and ask to see the Clerk's Office. The clerk will fill out part 3.
- Ask the clerk for certified copies of the Order of Adoption (you may need several).
Make copies of the Order of Adoption NOW and keep them in a safe place!
If you lose your Order of Adoption (or give them all away to agencies), the court will not let you have any more copies without a specific written order from the judge. This can be difficult and time-consuming, and you may have to pay more money to get copies later.
Get as many regular and certified copies that you think you will ever need. You may want to get 5-10 copies just to be sure you always have some if needed. Put them in a safe place where you can access them years later!
- Mail the Report of Adoption and a certified copy of the Order of Adoption with the required fees to Vital Statistics:
Office of Vital Records, Adoptions
4150 Technology Way, Suite 104
Carson City, NV 89706
You should receive the new birth certificate in the mail in about 4-6 weeks.
