How to Adopt an Adult in Nevada
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Nevada · Last updated October 7, 2026
A hard 10 year age gap is the rule that decides most Nevada adult adoptions, and it is the only real eligibility gate the state sets. Adult adoption in Nevada is a district court proceeding that permanently makes one adult the legal parent of another adult, carrying the inheritance and next of kin consequences that follow. NRS 127C.700 says any adult person may adopt any other adult person, with no category list at all. Nobody has to be disabled, a former stepchild, or a former foster youth to qualify. The two bars are that the person being adopted must be at least 10 years younger, with no stated exception and no good cause waiver written into the statute, and that you cannot adopt your own spouse. Watch the numbering. The sections older articles cite, NRS 127.190 through 127.210, were replaced on October 1, 2025 by NRS 127C.700, 127C.710 and 127C.720, and Nevada now calls every consent an agreement. You and the adult you are adopting sign a written agreement of adoption. A married person adopting needs their spouse's agreement, and a married adoptee needs theirs, under two separate subsections of NRS 127C.710. Birth parents agree to nothing. You file in the district court for the county where either of you lives, and the court may waive the hearing if the two of you ask. The petition also asks something few states ask: whether the adopting person should be added as an additional parent on the birth certificate or should replace a named parent. Attorney review of your paperwork is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Nevada
Who are you hoping to adopt?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
Who can be adopted as an adult in Nevada?
Any adult can be adopted by any other adult in Nevada, with no list of qualifying categories anywhere in the statute (NRS 127C.700). Two limits apply instead. The person being adopted must be at least 10 years younger than the person adopting, and cannot be that person's spouse.
How big does the age gap have to be in Nevada?
At least 10 years. NRS 127C.700 permits an adult to adopt another adult who is at least 10 years younger than the potential adopting person. The section states no exception for blood relatives and gives the judge no written power to waive the gap for good cause.
Which spouse has to agree to an adult adoption in Nevada?
Both spouses, under two separate subsections. If the person adopting is married and not lawfully separated, that spouse must agree (NRS 127C.710(1)). If the adult being adopted is married and not lawfully separated, that spouse must agree too (NRS 127C.710(2)). Birth parents agree to nothing.
Which court handles an adult adoption in Nevada?
The district court, which holds original jurisdiction in adoption proceedings (NRS 127A.200). You file in the county where either the person adopting or the adult being adopted resides (NRS 127C.720). There is no separate probate, family or surrogate court for this in Nevada.
Nevada adult adoption at a glance
An adult adoption in Nevada is a district court order that makes one adult the permanent legal parent of another adult, so the two assume toward each other the legal relation of parent and child with all its rights and duties (NRS 127C.700). Nevada gates that on almost nothing. Any adult may adopt any other adult. The one firm requirement is a 10 year age difference, with no exception or waiver written into the section, plus a bar on adopting your own spouse. Nevada also uses its own vocabulary: the word consent does not appear in these sections at all, only agreement. Birth parents agree to nothing, no home study is part of the process, the hearing can be waived, and the Supreme Court publishes a full statewide form set.
Keeping a late mother on the birth certificate in a Carson City adoption
A Carson City aunt of 52 raised her nephew from the age of 12, and at 34 he wants the public record to finally say so. The 18 year difference between them clears the 10 year minimum in NRS 127C.700 comfortably. She is unmarried; he is married, so his wife signs an agreement under NRS 127C.710(2). He does not want his late mother removed, so the petition asks that his aunt be added as an additional parent rather than replace a named parent (NRS 127C.720). He also wants her surname, which means pleading NRS 41.270 and running the notice once in a local newspaper. The two of them ask the court to waive the hearing. Attorney review of the paperwork is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
NRS 127C.700 (who may be adopted, 10 year gap, agreement of adoption)
Provides that any adult person may adopt any other adult person who is at least 10 years younger than the potential adopting person, except that person's spouse, by an agreement of adoption approved by an order of the district court, and permits a name change in the petition. Replaced NRS 127.190 on October 1, 2025.
NRS 127C.710 (the two spousal agreements, and no parental agreement)
Separate subsections bar a married person not lawfully separated from adopting an adult without their spouse's agreement, and bar such a person from being adopted without their spouse's agreement. A third subsection provides that no agreement of the parents, the Division, or any other person is required.
NRS 127C.720 (petition, birth certificate election, hearing waiver, order)
Sets out who may file and where, the five things the petition must state including the name change and the additional parent or replacement parent election, the court's power to waive the hearing, discretionary notice to interested persons, and the order of adoption with any name change.
NRS 127A.200 and 127A.250 (district court jurisdiction; parental rights and inheritance)
Gives the district courts of the state original jurisdiction in adoption proceedings, and provides that on entry of an order of adoption the adopted person becomes the legal child of the persons adopting, with mutual inheritance between the adopted person and the adoptive parents and their relatives.
Nevada Supreme Court Self Help Center: How to Adopt an Adult
The judicial branch self help page states the 10 year rule, that one of the adults must live in the state, that a married party's spouse signs and notarizes a consent, that biological parents need not consent, that filing is in the local district court, and that the filing fee differs in every county.
Regional Variances
Nevada adult adoption rules at a glance
Who may be adopted
Any adult. NRS 127C.700 opens with any adult person may adopt any other adult person, and the three adult sections contain no disability, former stepchild, former foster or prior relationship category. Adult means a person at least 18 years of age (NRS 127A.025).
Age difference
At least 10 years younger. This is the state's real eligibility gate, and NRS 127C.700 attaches no relative exception and no good cause waiver to it. The self help page states the same rule from the other side, as 10 years older.
The adoptee's own participation
Required. Both parties execute a written agreement of adoption assuming toward each other the legal relation of parent and child (NRS 127C.700), and either may file the petition while both are named petitioners (NRS 127C.720).
Agreement of the adopting person's spouse
Required if that person is married and not lawfully separated and the spouse can give it (NRS 127C.710). This is an agreement, not joinder: the statute does not make the spouse a co-petitioner. The statewide form does allow a married couple to petition together.
Agreement of the adoptee's spouse
Required under its own subsection if the adult being adopted is married and not lawfully separated and the spouse can give it (NRS 127C.710). The self help form for both situations is titled Spouse's Consent to Adoption and asks for notarization.
Birth parents
No agreement required, expressly (NRS 127C.710). No mandatory service provision exists. The court may require notice of the hearing on other interested persons, and any such person may appear and object (NRS 127C.720).
Court and venue
District court, which has original jurisdiction in adoption proceedings (NRS 127A.200). File in the county where either the person adopting or the adult being adopted resides (NRS 127C.720). No durational residency period applies.
Filing fee
No adoption specific fee is set statewide. The mandatory statutory layers are $56 (NRS 19.013), $99 (NRS 19.0302) and $3 (NRS 19.020), and adoption is expressly exempt from the additional $32 in NRS 19.030. County add ons vary, so ask your clerk for the total.
Investigation
Not part of the adult process. The three adult sections carry no investigation or home study requirement, and the chapter's home study provisions are keyed to a child. Nevada deleted its express no investigation sentence effective October 1, 2025, so confirm current local practice.
Name change
Allowed in the same petition and the same order (NRS 127C.700 and 127C.720). The statewide form pleads it under NRS 41.270, which requires the reason, a sworn non fraud statement, felony disclosure and fingerprints where there is a record. Publication once may be required (NRS 41.280).
Birth certificate
The petition must state whether the adopting person is to be added as an additional parent or is to replace a specific named parent (NRS 127C.720). After the order, the Report of Adoption goes to the Office of Vital Records in Carson City with a certified copy of the order.
Inheritance
The order declares the adopted person the child of the person adopting (NRS 127C.720). NRS 134.190 routes an adopted person's intestate inheritance to NRS 127A.250, which gives mutual inheritance with the adoptive parents and their relatives. The effect on a parent who stays on the record merits legal review.
Hearing
Set by the court unless waived at the petitioners' request (NRS 127C.720). Both parties appear in person or by remote appearance, or through counsel empowered in writing. Adoption hearings are confidential and held in closed court under NRS 127A.230.
Forms
A complete statewide set from the Nevada Supreme Court Self Help Center: Family Cover Sheet, Petition for Adult Adoption with the agreement as Exhibit 1, Spouse's Consent to Adoption, Notice of Petition for Name Change, and Order of Adult Adoption.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Confirm the 10 year age difference
Before you draft anything days after startingCheck both birthdates against NRS 127C.700, which requires the adult being adopted to be at least 10 years younger than the person adopting. Confirm also that the adult is not the spouse of the person adopting, which is the other express bar in that subsection.
Confirm you are reading the current sections
Before you rely on any citation days after startingNRS 127.190, 127.200 and 127.210 were replaced on October 1, 2025 by NRS 127C.700, 127C.710 and 127C.720. The statewide Petition for Adult Adoption still cites the old numbers in its body, so verify every section against the legislature's own chapter pages.
Draft the agreement of adoption
First document to prepare days after startingPrepare the written agreement executed by both of you, stating that you agree to assume toward each other the legal relation of parent and child with all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of that relation (NRS 127C.700). Attorney review of the agreement is available through DocDraft.
Draft the petition with the birth certificate election
With the agreement days after startingInclude all five items NRS 127C.720 requires, and answer the birth certificate question squarely: whether the adopting person is added as an additional parent or replaces a specific named parent. Use the Nevada Supreme Court Petition for Adult Adoption, which bundles the agreement as Exhibit 1.
Obtain each spousal agreement that applies
Before filing days after startingGet a signed agreement from the spouse of the person adopting, if married and not lawfully separated (NRS 127C.710), and a separate one from the spouse of the adult being adopted in the same situation. The statewide Spouse's Consent to Adoption form asks for notarization.
File in the district court and ask the clerk the fee
When the papers are signed days after startingFile the cover sheet, petition, agreements and proposed order in the county where either of you resides (NRS 127C.720). Fees combine statutory layers under NRS 19.013, 19.0302 and 19.020 with county add ons, so ask the clerk for the total and about a fee waiver.
Publish the name change notice if required
Before the court date days after startingIf a name change is requested, the court may require the Notice of Petition for Name Change to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county (NRS 41.280). File the publisher's affidavit of publication with the court as proof that it ran.
Attend the hearing and send the Report of Adoption
On your hearing date and after days after startingAppear unless the court waived the hearing (NRS 127C.720), and ask the clerk for several certified copies of the order. For an amended birth certificate, complete the Report of Adoption and send it with a certified copy to the Office of Vital Records in Carson City.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm the 10 year age difference | Check both birthdates against NRS 127C.700, which requires the adult being adopted to be at least 10 years younger than the person adopting. Confirm also that the adult is not the spouse of the person adopting, which is the other express bar in that subsection. | - | Before you draft anything |
| Confirm you are reading the current sections | NRS 127.190, 127.200 and 127.210 were replaced on October 1, 2025 by NRS 127C.700, 127C.710 and 127C.720. The statewide Petition for Adult Adoption still cites the old numbers in its body, so verify every section against the legislature's own chapter pages. | - | Before you rely on any citation |
| Draft the agreement of adoption | Prepare the written agreement executed by both of you, stating that you agree to assume toward each other the legal relation of parent and child with all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of that relation (NRS 127C.700). Attorney review of the agreement is available through DocDraft. | - | First document to prepare |
| Draft the petition with the birth certificate election | Include all five items NRS 127C.720 requires, and answer the birth certificate question squarely: whether the adopting person is added as an additional parent or replaces a specific named parent. Use the Nevada Supreme Court Petition for Adult Adoption, which bundles the agreement as Exhibit 1. | - | With the agreement |
| Obtain each spousal agreement that applies | Get a signed agreement from the spouse of the person adopting, if married and not lawfully separated (NRS 127C.710), and a separate one from the spouse of the adult being adopted in the same situation. The statewide Spouse's Consent to Adoption form asks for notarization. | - | Before filing |
| File in the district court and ask the clerk the fee | File the cover sheet, petition, agreements and proposed order in the county where either of you resides (NRS 127C.720). Fees combine statutory layers under NRS 19.013, 19.0302 and 19.020 with county add ons, so ask the clerk for the total and about a fee waiver. | - | When the papers are signed |
| Publish the name change notice if required | If a name change is requested, the court may require the Notice of Petition for Name Change to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county (NRS 41.280). File the publisher's affidavit of publication with the court as proof that it ran. | - | Before the court date |
| Attend the hearing and send the Report of Adoption | Appear unless the court waived the hearing (NRS 127C.720), and ask the clerk for several certified copies of the order. For an amended birth certificate, complete the Report of Adoption and send it with a certified copy to the Office of Vital Records in Carson City. | - | On your hearing date and after |
Frequently Asked Questions
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