General information
State statutes relating to adoption can be found in Chapter 26.33 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). 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.
- The Complete Guide to Adoption in Washington State (from a legal perspective) from Anderson Hunter Law Firm
- Can you adopt an adult? from Anderson Hunter Law Firm
- How do I do an Adult Adoption in Clark County, Washington? from Navigate Law Group
- Adoption from the American Bar Association
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
- The Clark County Clerk's Office has a page about filing adoptions and accessing adoption records.
- The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) website has adoption information related to adopting foster children.
Additional print resources about adoption and other family law topics are available at the law library.