Adult adoption occurs when one adult legally adopts another adult.
Under the Adoption Act 1994, a person who is aged 18 years or over may be adopted by a step-parent, carer or relative who cared for them immediately before they turned 18 years.
“Step-parent” means, in relation to a person, another person who:
- is not a birth parent or adoptive parent of the first-mentioned person; and
- is married to, or the de facto partner of, the first-mentioned person’s birth parent or adoptive parent.
“Carer” in relation to a child, means a person with whom the child lives and who, either alone or jointly with another person, has the daily care of the child.
“Relative” in relation to a person, means the person’s grandparent, sibling, uncle or aunt.
The following documents outline the Adult Adoption process and eligibility requirements.
Print this page
