General information
State statutes relating to adoption can be found in RCW Chapter 26.33. You can also use the Child Welfare Information Gateway's state statutes search for help finding specific adoption-related topics, (e.g., access to records, consent, jurisdiction) in the statutes.
- What Are the Differences Between an Adoption and Minor Guardianship? from Navigate Law Group
- How do I do an Adult Adoption in Clark County, Washington? from Navigate Law Group
- Adoption from the American Bar Association
- What is Second Parent Adoption and Why Do You Need One? from Navigate Law Group
Forms and instructions
Though Washington State uses mandatory pattern forms for many family law cases, there are no pattern forms for adoption cases.
King County Adoption Services has legal forms for limited types of adoptions available for purchase at their Family Court Services office in Seattle or by mail. Each packet comes with forms and instructions to assist in completing the adoption process. Packets are available for the following types of adoptions:
- Step-parent / Second Parent consenting
- Step-parent / Second Parent non-consenting
- Adult
- International (Re-adoption)
- Independent / In Home (Non-agency)
According to the King County Adoption Services FAQ, "You may feel free to modify our forms for use in another county."
Additional resources
- Filing adoptions and accessing adoption records from the Clark County Clerk's Office
- Adopting a Washington state foster child from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Additional print resources about adoption and other family law topics are available at the law library.