Maryland Stepparent Adoption — Signed Consent 3 Months Ago, How Much Longer Should I Expect?

Hey everyone,

I’m the biological father of a child whose mother’s fiancé is currently in the process of adopting her in Montgomery County, Maryland.

I voluntarily signed the adoption consent paperwork in early August 2026. About a month later, on September 1, I received an official notice from the Montgomery County Circuit Court with an adoption/guardianship case number.
It’s now been approximately three months since I signed the paperwork and two months since receiving the court notice, but I haven’t heard anything else.

I tried searching the case number through Maryland Judiciary Case Search, but nothing comes up. From what I understand, adoption cases are confidential, so that’s probably normal.

I’m mainly wondering:
How long does an adoption like this typically take in Maryland once the biological father has signed consent?
Does receiving a case number mean the process is already moving through the courts?

Is it normal to go several months without receiving any updates?
Can I contact the court directly for a status update even though adoption cases are confidential?
For anyone who’s been through a similar situation, how long did it take to finalize?

I’m not looking to contest the adoption or interfere with the process. I’m simply curious where things stand and how much longer I should realistically expect it to take.
Any insight from people familiar with Maryland adoptions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Location: Rockville Maryland