# Adopting an adult?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 2, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530 "2003-08-02T11:56:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530/1 "2003-08-02T11:56:14Z")

</div>

What’s the deal with adopting an adult? I’m interested in adopting an adult stepchild (over 21). Yes, I suppose the gesture is largely symbolic, though maybe not entirely so. I like the idea of making legally official the role I want to play, and like the idea that this person would have some legal rights and interests as my next of kin.

Is it possible? Difficult? Expensive? What are the consequences? Are there any reasons not to?

I live in Maryland USA.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KenP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KenP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenP)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530/2 "2003-08-02T12:52:48Z")

</div>

Remember the case in San Francisco a couple years ago? A couple was convicted (I think) of manslaughter after their dog killed a neighbor? The couple had adopted the prison inmate who sold them the dog.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530/3 "2003-08-02T17:08:44Z")

</div>

[Recent thread on this same topic.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=199578&highlight=adopt)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530/4 "2003-08-02T21:43:59Z")

</div>

Yes, mostly it’s used so that caretakers can adopt disabled folks for legal and financial reasons. I guess it would also be useful for adults wanting to adopt stepchildren to protect their interests.

Occassionaly it’s used for stranger and more nefarious reasons, such as in the case **KenP** cited.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adopting-an-adult/192530/5 "2003-08-02T23:45:05Z")

</div>

Also used here in Japan to add a lover to your own family register since same-sex marriages aren’t recognised.