Adult Adoption
Strengthening Family Bonds — At Any Age
Family is built through love, not just biology.
For many people, the person they call “family” has already filled the role of a parent or child for years—providing care, stability, and unconditional support—without legal recognition.
Adult adoption allows you to make that bond official.
At The Cooley Law Firm, we guide families through Nevada’s adult adoption process with care, efficiency, and respect.
What Is Adult Adoption?
In Nevada, adult adoption allows one adult to legally adopt another adult age 18 or older, with the consent of both individuals.
No parental consent is required.
Both parties must agree.
The Legal Process in Nevada
Nevada’s adult adoption process is designed to be straightforward, private, and dignified.
Unlike child adoptions:
No parental rights are terminated
No home study is required
No background or welfare investigation is conducted
In many cases:
The court waives the hearing
The adoption is finalized entirely on paper
No testimony is required
We prepare and file all documents to ensure the process is smooth and stress-free.
Why Families Choose Adult Adoption
Adult adoption is often motivated by love, gratitude, and permanence.
Families choose adult adoption to:
Honor an existing parent–child relationship
Secure inheritance or medical decision-making rights
Reconnect biological relatives separated by time or circumstance
Formally recognize step-families or nontraditional families
Adult adoption provides lasting peace of mind—affirming that family is defined by commitment, not age.
Why Choose The Cooley Law Firm
Legislative Insight
Shelly Booth Cooley helped shape Nevada’s adoption reforms, including AB 227, giving clients firsthand insight into the law’s purpose and application.
Respectful Representation
Every adoption is handled with dignity, compassion, and care.
Streamlined Process
We manage all pleadings and court filings to keep your adoption efficient and private.
Comprehensive Family-Building Support
From adult adoption to close-family and confirmatory adoptions, we protect families in all their forms.
Legal Recognition for the Family You’ve Already Built
Love, commitment, and care create a family.
Nevada law provides the legal framework to recognize it.
If you wish to adopt an adult family member, stepchild, or loved one, The Cooley Law Firm will guide you through the process with clarity and confidence.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Contact The Cooley Law Firm to schedule a consultation with Shelly Booth Cooley, a Nevada adoption and family building attorney, Adoption & ART Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, and advocate for Nevada’s modern family-building laws.
Your family deserves legal recognition—at every stage of life.
