Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9300. Section 9300.
(a)
An adult may be adopted by another adult, including a stepparent, as provided in this part.
(b)
A married minor may be adopted in the same manner as an adult under this part.
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [9300. - 9307.]
Cal. Family Code - FAM 1.
in effectCal. Family Code - FAM § 9301. Section 9301.
A married person who is not lawfully separated from the person’s spouse may not adopt an adult without the consent of the spouse, provided that the spouse is capable of giving that consent.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9302. Section 9302.
(a)
A married person who is not lawfully separated from the person’s spouse may not be adopted without the consent of the spouse, provided that the spouse is capable of giving that consent.
(b)
The consent of the parents of the proposed adoptee, of the department, or of any other person is not required.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9303. Section 9303.
(a)
Except as permitted by the court, upon a finding of good cause, a person shall not adopt more than one unrelated adult pursuant to this part within one year of the person’s adoption of an unrelated adult unless the proposed adoptee is the biological sibling of a person previously adopted pursuant to this part or unless the proposed adoptee is disabled or physically handicapped. An order finding good cause shall be in writing or stated on the record.
(b)
Except as permitted by the court, upon a finding of good cause, a person shall not adopt an unrelated adult pursuant to this part within one year of an adoption of another person pursuant to this
part by the prospective adoptive parent’s spouse unless the proposed adoptee is a biological sibling of a person previously adopted pursuant to this part. An order finding good cause shall be in writing or stated on the record.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9304. Section 9304.
A person adopted pursuant to this part may take the family name of the adoptive parent.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9305. Section 9305.
After adoption, the adoptee and the adoptive parent or parents shall sustain towards each other the legal relationship of parent and child and have all the rights and are subject to all the duties of that relationship.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9306. Section 9306.
(a)
Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the birth parents of a person adopted pursuant to this part are, from the time of the adoption, relieved of all parental duties towards, and all responsibility for, the adopted person, and have no right over the adopted person.
(b)
If an adult is adopted by the spouse of a birth parent, the parental rights and responsibilities of that birth parent are not affected by the adoption.
(c)
An adult being adopted pursuant to this part may waive the termination of the parental duties and responsibilities of an existing parent or parents under
subdivision (a) by signing a waiver at any time prior to the finalization of the adoption. The waiver may be included in the adoption agreement or in a separate writing filed with the court.
Cal. Family Code - FAM § 9307. Section 9307.
A hearing with regard to adoption under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 9320) or termination of a parent and child relationship under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 9340) may, in the discretion of the court, be open and public.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026