Here’s a clear, practice-oriented legal guide to the Adult Adoption Process in the Philippines—who can adopt or be adopted, which forum to file in, required consents and documents, what hearings look like, how the decree affects names, filiation, inheritance, and how rescission works. I’m not using web search; this tracks the Civil Code/Family Code framework, the (judicial) adult adoption practice under the Supreme Court rules on adoption, and the post-2022 split where administrative adoption now covers children, while adoption of a person 18+ remains a court case.

Big picture: two tracks after 2022

Children (under 18, or those 18+ but still “children” in law due to incapacity): adoption is now largely administrative before the National Authority for Child Care (NACC).
Adults (18 and above, with full capacity): adoption remains a judicial special proceeding in the Family Court. That’s what this guide is about.

Think of adult adoption as a court-only route focused on consent, voluntariness, and the legal consequences (name, filiation, succession). No NACC petition, no supervised trial custody.

Who may adopt (adult adoption)

A natural or legal person may adopt if he/she/they:

is of legal age, with full civil capacity and good moral character;
has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;
is emotionally and psychologically capable to parent; and
is generally at least 16 years older than the adoptee (courts may relax the age gap where equitable—e.g., when the adopter is the spouse/biological parent of the adoptee’s parent, or when the relationship of parent-child has long existed).

Spouses must adopt jointly, except when one spouse adopts the other’s child (including an adult stepchild).

Foreigners may adopt via the judicial route if they meet Philippine qualifications and (as a rule) residence and reciprocity safeguards, with typical waivers where the foreigner is married to a Filipino adopting that Filipino spouse’s child. (Courts scrutinize intent and capacity closely in adult cases.)

Who may be adopted as an adult

Any person 18 or older with full capacity may be adopted when:

the adoption consolidates a parent-child relationship that has existed since the adoptee’s minority (common with step-parents or long-time guardians), or
there are compelling family reasons (e.g., to formalize filiation, unify surnames, align succession/next-of-kin, or secure cross-border caregiving).

Unlike child cases, there’s no “legally available for adoption” declaration. The adult’s informed consent is the centerpiece.

Required consents

Adoptee’s written consent (since the adoptee is an adult).
Adopter’s spouse (if married).
Adoptee’s spouse (if married).
If the adoptee has minor children, their other parent or legal guardian may be heard for the child’s best interests (courts often solicit their views).

Biological parents’ consent is not required for an adult adoptee, though courts may allow them to be heard if equity demands.

Where to file, venue, and confidentiality

Court: Family Court (Regional Trial Court designated as such).
Venue: where the adopter or adoptee resides.
Proceedings: in chambers (closed-door), records confidential. Decrees are recorded but the dossier is sealed.

What to file (core contents & attachments)

Verified Petition stating:

identities, ages, civil status, residence of adopter(s) and adoptee;
how and why adoption is sought (history of caregiving/parent-child relationship, motives);
that all consents are attached;
that legal qualifications are satisfied (no disqualifications; age gap, if applicable);
desired name/surname order for the adoptee; and
prayer for issuance of Decree of Adoption and corresponding civil-registry actions.

Typical attachments (courts can tailor):

Government IDs; birth certificate of adoptee (PSA).
Marriage certificate of adopter/adoptee (if married); CENOMAR if single.
Spousal consents (adopter/adoptee).
Police/NBI clearances of adopter(s).
Medical certificate (adopter’s fitness); sometimes adoptee too.
Proof of income/tax returns or employment certifications.
Narrative evidence of the parent-child relationship (photos, school/medical records listing adopter as guardian, affidavits of disinterested persons, etc.).
Where relevant, foreign law/reciprocity proof (for foreign adopters) and authenticated civil docs.

Social worker report: Family Courts often still request a case study/home study by a court-assigned social worker to document voluntariness and welfare—even in adult cases. No supervised trial custody is required for adults.

How the hearing unfolds

Preliminary conference: judge confirms identities, consents, and completeness; may order a case study.
In-chambers testimony: brief direct/cross on history of caregiving, motives, absence of coercion, and understanding of legal effects (especially succession and severance of prior filiation).
Findings: court applies a welfare/best-interests lens adapted to an adult (voluntariness, good faith, family integration).
Decree of Adoption: if granted, the court issues a Decree and orders to the civil registrar to prepare a new Certificate of Live Birth reflecting the adopter(s) as parents; the original birth record is cancelled and sealed (openable only by court order).

Timelines: Typically a few months, depending on docket and completeness. (No trial custody, no matching, and no NACC clearances—so faster than child cases.)

Legal effects of an adult adoption

1) Filiation & parental authority

The adoptee becomes, for all civil purposes, the legitimate child of the adopter(s).
Parental authority is academic if the adoptee is already of age, but kinship effects still matter for support (in cases of need) and impediments to marriage.

2) Surname and name

By default, the adoptee may use the adopter’s surname.
Courts can honor specific name orders (e.g., keep existing surname as middle name, or adopt double surnames) if coherent with civil-registry rules and the petition’s prayer.

3) Succession (inheritance)

The adoptee acquires the same legitime and intestate rights as a legitimate child of the adopter(s).
Successional ties with biological parents are severed (no more mutual inheritance), except when the adopter is the spouse of a biological parent—the tie with that spouse remains.

4) Support & family rights

Mutual support obligations (in cases of need) arise between adopter(s) and adoptee, like any parent-child pair.
Family name/representation and next-of-kin status shift to the adoptive line.

5) Impediments to marriage

Adoption creates legal kinship that triggers prohibited degrees (e.g., between adopter and adoptee, between adoptive siblings).

6) Citizenship/immigration

Adoption itself does not confer Philippine citizenship. It may, however, be relevant in derivative immigration/family-reunification analyses under foreign law.

Limits and court red flags

Courts will deny or dismiss petitions that appear to:

evade immigration/visa rules or inheritance restrictions in bad faith;
launder simulated birth records (use the separate rectification statute for children; adult adoption is not a cure-all);
defraud creditors or prejudice legitimes through last-minute adoptions with no genuine family bond; or
lack essential consents or show coercion.

Post-decree civil registry actions

Local Civil Registrar issues a new birth certificate naming the adopter(s) as parents; the old record is cancelled and sealed.
The registrar forwards to PSA for national annotation.
The adoptee may then update IDs, bank, SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG, passports, and property titles to the new legal name/parentage.

Rescission (undoing an adoption)

Only the adoptee (not the adopter) may seek rescission for serious grounds, typically:

repeated physical/psychological abuse,
attempts on life, sexual abuse,
abandonment or failure to fulfill parental obligations.

Effects of rescission:

Restores the pre-adoption civil status and surname (unless the adoptee requests otherwise and the court finds good cause).
Severs the adoptive filiation and corresponding successional rights prospectively (no clawback of validly received benefits).
Restores successional ties to biological parents prospectively.
Civil-registry entries are re-annotated per the rescission decree.

Adopters cannot rescind (they may, at most, disinherit for causes allowed by law).

Practical checklists

For would-be adopters (adult)

Confirm venue (where you or the adoptee resides).
Gather IDs, clearances, marriage/CENOMAR, medical and income proofs.
Draft a concise family history (how long you’ve acted as parent; evidence).
Secure consents (spouses; adoptee).
Be ready for a social worker interview; keep proceedings confidential.

For adult adoptees

Prepare your written consent (acknowledging effects on name, filiation, succession).
Decide on your chosen surname/full name.
Collect records showing the long-standing parent-child relationship (if relying on that ground).
If married, secure spousal consent; consider implications for your minor children (names, passports).

Costs, timing, and tips

Filing fees & costs: court filing fees, clearances, medicals, and modest costs for certified copies; no publication is ordinarily required (unlike change-of-name cases).
Duration: frequently a few months if documents are complete and uncontested.
Counsel: Not strictly required, but highly advisable—to tailor the petition, manage civil-registry orders, and anticipate cross-border effects (if any).

Pro tips

Put your desired civil-registry directions (exact name format, PSA actions) in the prayer so the decree is implementation-ready.
If the adoptee owns registered property, prepare post-decree annotation plans (e.g., name changes in titles).
Align estate plans (wills/insurance/beneficiaries) after the decree to reflect the new legitimate-child status.

FAQs

Can an adult adoption be opposed by biological parents? They’re not required consents. The court may hear them, but the adult’s informed consent and the court’s welfare findings control.

Will adult adoption let me change my middle name? Courts often allow a coherent full-name order (first-middle-last) consistent with civil-registry rules—state your exact preference in the petition.

Do adoptive parents instantly gain rights to my property? No. Adoption creates filiation, not co-ownership. Usual rules on support (in need) and succession apply.

Can a foreign step-parent adopt me as an adult to fix papers abroad? Possibly—if Philippine judicial standards are met and the foreign jurisdiction accepts the decree. Courts scrutinize good faith and fitness.

Does adult adoption legitimize my own children? No. It alters your filiation, not your children’s. (They may change surnames through proper processes if that’s later desired and lawful.)

Bottom line

Adult adoption in the Philippines is a Family Court proceeding—confidential, consent-driven, and faster than child adoption because there’s no trial custody or NACC step.
A granted Decree of Adoption makes the adoptee the adopter’s legitimate child for all civil purposes—name, support, and succession included—while severing prior filial ties (save the usual step-parent exception).
Plan for the civil-registry changes and estate implications right after the decree.

If you want, I can draft a ready-to-file petition (with annex checklist and sample decree/PSA directives) tailored to your facts—just share the basics (names, ages, civil status, city of residence, and your preferred post-adoption full name).