Adult Adoption in Nevada

Part of my Nevada Adoption Overview.

By Ronald W. Brilliant, Attorney at Law · Licensed in Idaho, Nevada & California · Last reviewed: September 2026 against Nevada Revised Statutes chapters 127A through 127G and 128 (current through the 2025 legislative session)

In This TopicNevada AdoptionTopic 9 of 10: Adult Adoption

Nevada allows one adult to adopt another. An adult adoption is a type of adoption where the person being adopted is an adult (NRS 127A.030), and an “adult” is a person who is at least 18 years of age (NRS 127A.025). This page is for adults who want to establish the legal relation of parent and child with another adult (NRS 127C.700(2)).

The adult adoption rules used to be in chapter 127 of NRS. They are now in chapter 127C, at NRS 127C.700, 127C.710 and 127C.720 (NRS 127C.700 to 127C.720).

Which Rules Apply

Adult adoptions are governed by NRS 127C.700, 127C.710 and 127C.720. The other chapter 127C procedures in NRS 127C.200 to 127C.650 also apply, but only where they are not inconsistent with the three adult adoption sections (NRS 127C.090). The requirements in NRS 127A.160 to 127A.430 apply to adult adoptions governed by chapter 127C, as applicable (NRS 127A.150(2)).

For the general adoption rules, see Nevada Adoption Basics. For adoptions of children through agencies or by identified placement, see Agency and Identified Adoptions.

Who May Adopt an Adult

Any adult may adopt any other adult who is at least 10 years younger than the person adopting (NRS 127C.700(1)). There is one exception in the statute: a person may not adopt his or her own spouse (NRS 127C.700(1)).

The Agreement of Adoption

An adult adoption is made by an agreement of adoption that the district court approves with an order of adoption (NRS 127C.700(1)). The agreement must (NRS 127C.700(2)):

• Be in writing;
• Be signed by both the person adopting and the person to be adopted; and
• State that the parties agree to take on toward each other the legal relation of parent and child, with all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of that relation.

Whose Agreement Is Required

Person	Agreement required?	NRS
Spouse of the person adopting (if married and not lawfully separated)	Yes, if the spouse is capable of giving agreement	127C.710(1)
Spouse of the person being adopted (if married and not lawfully separated)	Yes, if the spouse is capable of giving agreement	127C.710(2)
Parent or parents of the person being adopted	No	127C.710(3)
The Division or any other person	No	127C.710(3)

The agreement of the adult’s parent or parents is not required (NRS 127C.710(3)). The rules on parental consent for children are covered on the Consent and Relinquishment page.

Where to File

The district courts of Nevada have original jurisdiction in adoption proceedings, except as provided in NRS 125E.270 (NRS 127A.200). Either the person adopting or the person to be adopted may file a petition asking the district court to approve the agreement by issuing an order of adoption. The petition is filed in the county where either of them lives (NRS 127C.720(1)).

What the Petition Must Say

The petition must state (NRS 127C.720(2)):

1. The full names and ages of the petitioners.
2. That the petitioners want the relationship of parent and child to be established between them.
3. Whether the person being adopted wants a name change, and if so the new name, and whether that person wants an amended birth certificate.
4. Whether the person being adopted wants to add the adopting person as an additional parent, or replace a specific parent, on his or her birth certificate.
5. That there has been full compliance with the law.

The person being adopted may change his or her name as part of the adoption petition, if desired (NRS 127C.700(3)).

The Hearing

• Setting a hearing. The court sets a time and place for a hearing, unless the court waives the hearing at the petitioners’ request (NRS 127C.720(3)).
• Who must appear. If there is a hearing, both the person adopting and the person to be adopted must appear. If appearing is impossible or impractical, either or both may appear through counsel given written authority to do so (NRS 127C.720(4)).
• Notice to others. The court may require notice of the hearing to be served on other interested persons, and any of them may appear and object (NRS 127C.720(5)).
• Examination. At the hearing, the court examines the parties, or the counsel of a party who is not present, in person or by remote appearance (NRS 127C.720(6)).

Adoption hearings under chapters 127A to 127E are confidential and held in closed court, except as provided in NRS 239.0115. Only the petitioners, their witnesses, their attorneys, persons entitled to notice and certain agency representatives may attend, unless the court orders otherwise (NRS 127A.230(1)). All petitions, reports and orders are titled only in the names of the adopting parties (NRS 127A.220).

The Court’s Decision

If the court is satisfied that the adoption will be for the best interest of the parties, and that there is no reason not to grant the petition, the court must approve the agreement and enter an order of adoption. The order declares that the person adopted is the child of the person adopting, and the court orders a name change if one was requested (NRS 127C.720(6)). Otherwise, the court must withhold approval and deny the petition (NRS 127C.720(6)).

An order of adoption is a final judgment (NRS 127A.240). A person against whom an order is made, or who is affected by it, may appeal in the same manner as in other civil proceedings (NRS 127A.260).

Effect of an Adult Adoption

By signing the agreement, the parties agree to take on the legal relation of parent and child, with all of its rights, duties and responsibilities (NRS 127C.700(2)). The court’s order declares the adopted person to be the child of the adopting person (NRS 127C.720(6)).

NRS 127A.250 sets out the effect of an order of adoption on parental rights and inheritance. It provides, for example, that an adopted child inherits from the adoptive parents and their relatives as though the child were their biological child (NRS 127A.250(2)). That section is written in terms of an adopted “child,” and chapter 127A applies to adult adoptions “as applicable” (NRS 127A.150(2)). The statutes do not separately spell out how each part of NRS 127A.250 applies when the person adopted is an adult. For inheritance generally, see Dying Without a Will in Nevada.

How I Can Help

I help adults and their families prepare the written agreement of adoption and petition, request name and birth certificate changes, obtain any required spousal agreements, and present the case to the district court. Request a consultation to discuss your situation.

This page provides general information about Nevada adoption law, based on the Nevada Revised Statutes as currently revised, and is not legal advice. Court rules, regulations, federal law, and case law also affect adoptions. Every adoption is different; consult an attorney about your situation. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.