South Carolina Adoption Attorney Find Your Path to Forever
There are six distinct adoption paths in South Carolina, each with its own rules, timeline, and requirements. I'll help you figure out which one is yours, and walk you through every step until finalization.
Our Story
I'm Betsy Tanner, and adoption is personal to me in ways that go beyond the law. I'm an adoptee. I'm an adoptive mother. I was a licensed foster parent for more than ten years. Since 2018, my office has helped place over 350 children in forever families across South Carolina. When you call my office during business hours, a person answers. When you work with me, you work with me and not an associate.
That combination of lived experience and courtroom volume is something I bring to each client. If you're ready to begin, or if you're not sure where to begin, I'm here to help you figure it out.
Six Adoption Paths in South Carolina — Which One Is Yours?
South Carolina Family Court recognizes several distinct types of adoption, and the process, timeline, and legal requirements differ significantly depending on which path applies to your situation. Below is a plain-language overview of each. Click through to the page that fits your family's circumstances.
Infant and Private Adoption
You're welcoming a newborn or young child through a private placement. South Carolina requires that private adoptions of children placed in-state be both initiated and finalized here. Consent rules, the 90-day pre-finalization period, and birth parent rights are all central to this process.
Stepparent Adoption
Your spouse has a child from a prior relationship, and you're ready to make the relationship legal. South Carolina waives the home study and the 90-day pre-finalization waiting period for stepparent adoptions, which means uncontested cases can often finalize in a matter of months.
Relative Adoption
A grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other family member is stepping in to raise a child. Like stepparent adoption, South Carolina waives the home study and waiting period for relative adoptions, but consent requirements and the process for terminating parental rights still apply.
Foster Care and DSS Adoption
You've been fostering a child through the South Carolina Department of Social Services and you're ready to make it permanent. I know this process from the inside — I fostered for over a decade — and I'll help you navigate every DSS requirement through to finalization.
Adult Adoption
Adults can be adopted in South Carolina, and the reasons vary — formalizing a stepparent relationship, honoring a long-term guardianship, or establishing legal ties for estate purposes. The process is distinct from minor adoption and does not involve DSS or a home study.
Interstate and ICPC Adoption
When a child and adoptive family live in different states, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) governs the process. These cases involve additional coordination between state agencies and require careful attention to both states' requirements.
What Every South Carolina Adoption Has in Common
Regardless of which path applies to your family, all adoptions in South Carolina share a common legal foundation.
- All adoptions are finalized through South Carolina Family Court, and the resulting Decree of Adoption is a permanent court order.
- Consent requirements differ depending on whether the child's parents were married or unmarried at the time of the child's birth.
- Under S.C. Code § (864) 351-2433, a child who is 14 years of age or older must provide their own consent to the adoption.
- Most adoptions include a 90-day pre-finalization waiting period and a home study — though both are waived for stepparent and relative adoptions.
- Once finalized, a new birth certificate from the State in which the child is born is issued reflecting the adoptive parent or parents.
350 Children Placed. Yours Could Be Next
Since 2018, my office has finalized adoptions for over 350 children across South Carolina. These aren't cases that passed through a large firm, they came through my office, and I handled every one of them personally. That volume means I've seen many scenarios that can arise in an adoption proceeding, and I know how to keep your case on track when complications come up.
My office is located on the Greenville–Laurens county line in Fountain Inn, and I serve families throughout Upstate South Carolina — including Greenville, Simpsonville, Mauldin, Greer, Easley, and Laurens. Adoption matters are handled statewide.
What Does Adoption Cost in South Carolina?
Adoption costs vary considerably depending on the type of adoption and the complexity of your case. Rather than give you a number that may not reflect your situation, I've put together a dedicated page that breaks down what to expect for each adoption type.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Adoption in South Carolina
How does adoption work in South Carolina?
All adoptions in South Carolina are finalized through Family Court. The process begins with determining which type of adoption applies to your situation, then addressing consent, completing any required home study, and satisfying the pre-finalization waiting period before the court enters a Decree of Adoption. The specific steps and timeline vary significantly depending on the adoption type.
What are the types of adoption in South Carolina?
South Carolina recognizes infant and private adoption, stepparent adoption, relative adoption, foster care and DSS adoption, adult adoption, and interstate adoption governed by the ICPC. Each type has distinct consent rules, home study requirements, and timelines.
How long does adoption take in South Carolina?
It depends on the type. Stepparent and relative adoptions can finalize in a matter of months in uncontested cases because the home study and 90-day waiting period are waived. Infant and foster care adoptions typically take longer due to consent timelines, DSS involvement, or ICPC requirements. Interstate cases add coordination time between states.
Do I need a lawyer to adopt in South Carolina?
With South Carolina law does not require an attorney to represent the adoptive parents in a Family Court adoption proceeding, attempting to navigate consent requirements, termination of parental rights, and the finalization hearing without legal counsel creates serious risk to the outcome of your case.
What are the requirements to adopt in South Carolina?
Requirements vary by adoption type. Most adoptions require a home study, background checks, and a 90-day pre-finalization period — though stepparent and relative adoptions are exempt from the home study and waiting period. Consent from birth parents (and from the child, if age 14 or older) is required in most cases. Specific eligibility criteria depend on your circumstances.
Can I adopt a child from another country through your office?
My office handles the domestication of foreign adoptions — the South Carolina legal process that recognizes an adoption completed abroad and, where applicable, amends the child's South Carolina birth certificate through SCDPH following the Decree of Adoption. If you've completed an international adoption and need South Carolina recognition, I can help with that step.
What is a home study, and is it required for my adoption?
A home study is a formal assessment of your home, background, and readiness to adopt, conducted by a licensed professional. It is required for most adoptions in South Carolina, including infant, foster care, and ICPC adoptions. Stepparent and relative adoptions are exempt from the home study requirement under South Carolina law.