Solano Courts logoSolano Courts logo
  • ADA
  • Case Search
  • Pay Citation
  • Employment
  • ADA
  • Court Calendar
  • Rules of Court
  • Forms
  • FAQs
  • Legal Help
  • Case Search
  • Pay Citation
  • Employment
  • ADA
  • Court Calendar
  • Rules of Court
  • Forms
  • FAQs
  • Legal Help
  • DIVISIONS (current)

    Divisions

    Adoptions
    • General Information
    • Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
    • Stepparents & Domestic Partners
    • Independent, Agency, Inter-Country Adoption
    • Setting Guide
    • Related Agencies
    Civil
    • General Information
    • Unlawful Detainer (UD) Services
    • Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
    • Tentative Rulings
    • Legal Help
    • Remote Appearance
    • Setting Guide
    Court Investigators
    • General Information
    Court Reporters
    • General Information
    • Request a Transcript
    Criminal
    • General Information
    • Bail Information
    • Records, Fees & Forms
    • Court Appointed Counsel
    • Setting Guide
    • Resources
    • Pay Your Fine
    Family Law
    • General Information
    • Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
    • Setting Guide
    • FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR’S OFFICE / SOLANO LEGAL ACCESS CENTER
    • Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC)
    • Family Law Programs
    • Apply for Child Support Services
    Grand Jury
    • An Overview
    • Becoming A Civil Grand Juror
    • Reports & Responses
    Juvenile
    • General Information
    • Confidentiality
    • Court Appointed Counsel
    • Juvenile Delinquency
    • Juvenile Dependency
    • Truancy Court
    • Setting Guide
    • Partner Agencies
    Juvenile Justice Commission
    • About The JJC
    • Join The JJC
    • Meetings
    Language Access Services
    Legal Help
    Out-Of-Court Options
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
    • Getting Started
    • Mediator Directory
    Probate and Conservatorship/Guardianship
    • General Information
    • Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
    • Probate Pre-Grants and Notes
    • Estate / Trusts
    • Guardianship Cases
    • Conservatorship Cases
    Small Claims
    • General Information
    • Forms and Filing Fees
    • Filing Instructions
    • Post-Judgment Proceedings
    • Specific Enforcement Procedures
    • Out-Of-Court Options
    • Small Claims Advisor
    Traffic
    • General Information
    • Fees, Fines and Forms
    • Pay Citation
    • Setting Guide
    • Court Appearances
    • Traffic School
    • How to Plead Not Guilty
    • Failure to Appear or Pay
    • Correctable Violations
    Treatment Courts
    • General Information
    • Dependency Drug Court
    • Adult Drug Court
    • Mental Health Diversion Court
    • Parole Reentry Court
    • Veterans Treatment Court
    • Real DUI Court in Schools Program
  • Jury Duty
    • Welcome
    • Reporting Instructions
    • Reporting By Zoom
    • Terms Of Service
    • Coming To Court
    • Postponement / Dismissal
    • Accessibility Accommodation
    • Scam Alert
  • Civil Grand Jury
    • An Overview
    • Becoming A Civil Grand Juror
    • Reports & Responses
  • Contact/Visit
    • Visiting The Fairfield Courthouse
    • Visiting The Vallejo Courthouse
    • Hours of Operation
    • Security Screening
    • Courthouse Wifi
    • Administrative Records Request
    • Administration
    • Clerk Services
    • Judicial Directory
  • Administration
    • General Information
    • About The Court
    • Accessibility Accommodations
    • Court Appointed Counsel
    • Local Rules of Court
    • Media & Cameras In Court
    • Press Releases & Public Notices
    • Requests For Proposal
    • School Outreach
    • Strategic Plan
    • Temporary Judge Program
    • Unclaimed Funds
  • CourtCall
  1. Divisions
  2. Adoptions
  3. Stepparents & Domestic Partners
  • General Information
  • Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
  • Stepparents & Domestic Partners
  • Independent, Agency, Inter-Country Adoption
  • Setting Guide
  • Related Agencies

Adoptions

Stepparents & Domestic Partners

Stepparent / Domestic Partner Adoption

All forms mentioned in the instructions below are available on the Judicial Council Website or you can use our Local Forms Stepparent Adoption Packet.

Assistance resources click here for Self-Help Adoptions.

Initial Steps

  • 1

    Obtain and review the Adoption Packet.

    The Stepparent Adoption packet provides instructions, information and the forms needed to complete the stepparent/domestic partner adoption.

  • 2

    Complete and file the following forms with the Family Law and Adoptions Division.
    1. Adoption Request (ADOPT-200)
    2. Parental Notification of Indian Status (IWCA-020)
    3. Indian Child Inquiry Attachment (ICWA-010(A))
    4. If applicable, a Notice of Child Custody Proceedings for Indian Child (ICWA-030)
  • 3

    File the ADOPT-200.

    Once the Adoption Request form has been completed, it must be filed in the Family Law and Adoptions Division of the Clerk’s office. The filing fee for an adoption is $20.00 per child.

  • 4

    Consent Forms.

    If a parent of the child refuses to sign a consent to the adoption or cannot be located or identified, you may need to file a petition to terminate parental rights or a petition to declare minor free from parental custody and control prior to moving forward. See below for additional information. 

  • 5

    Contact the Court Investigators.

    Email:courtinvestigators@solano.courts.ca.gov or (707) 207-7390.

    Staff in the Court Investigator’s Office will collect all of the appropriate documents and information needed from you to conduct an investigation and prepare a report. A $500 Court Investigation fee will be collected prior to the start of the investigation.

  • 6

    Obtain Hearing Date.

    Once you are in receipt of the Court Investigator’s Report, contact the Family Law and Adoption clerk’s  office to arrange for a court date for the adoption. At the hearing, the judge will either grant or deny the request.

Petition to Terminate Parental Rights/Declare Minor Free from Custody and Control

  • Complete and file the following forms with the Family Law and Adoption Division Clerk’s Office:
    • Petition to Terminate Parental Rights/Declare Minor Free
    • Citation to Parent whose rights are being terminated
  • Contact the Court Investigator’s Office. A $200 Court Investigation fee will be collected prior to the start of the investigation. An additional $200 fee may be required if the petition is contested. Staff in the Court Investigator’s Office will collect all of the appropriate documents and information needed to conduct an investigation and prepare a report.
  • Serve the petition and citation on those persons entitled to notice.
  • If the judge determines that the parent’s rights should not be terminated, the adoption petition should be dismissed. If the judge determines that the parent’s rights should be terminated, please continue with the adoption process once an order terminating parental rights or declaring minor free has been signed and filed.

For further information regarding this process, please contact an attorney.

Home Study Evaluation

The fee for the Court Investigator’s home study/report is $500.00 for uncontested and $600.00 for contested. The Court Investigators will not begin their home study until the fees are paid in full. After the fees have been paid and the home study evaluation is complete, contact the clerk’s office to arrange for a court date for the adoption. At the hearing, the judge will either grant or deny the adoption request.

Final Hearing

The Court requires that the petitioner and child to be adopted to attend the adoption hearing. Please bring all of your paperwork to the court hearing. In addition, please have the following documents ready for the judge’s signature:

  1. Adoption Agreement (ADOPT-210), to be signed in the presence of the judge. If the child is 12 years or older, the child must also sign the agreement in the judge’s presence.
  2. Adoption Order (ADOPT-215) with the name the child will now use inserted where indicated.

The signing of the adoption order is usually a memorable occasion for the participants. Most Judges will not object if you wish to take photographs, but please ask in advance.

Issuing A New Birth Certificate

Once the adoption has been approved and the Adoption Order has been signed, the Clerk of the Court shall prepare and submit a Court Report of Adoption (VS44) to the Office of the State Registrar. The State Registrar will mail a certified copy of the new birth certificate to the petitioner.

For further information concerning adoption proceedings, please contact an attorney.

Contact Department
  • Employment
  • RFPs
  • Unclaimed Funds
  • Pay Citation
  • Self-Help Resources
CONTACT/VISIT

© 2022 Superior Court of California, County of Solano