Watch Adults Adopting Adults

Adults Adopting Adults is a documentary series that premiered on A&E in 2022. The show explores the little-known world of adult adoption, where adults legally adopt other adults to form new familial bonds and relationships. Each episode of Adults Adopting Adults follows a different adult adoption journey. Some adoptions are for practical reasons, like an aging person adopting an adult caregiver to make medical and financial decisions. Others are more emotional, with people adopting a close friend or partner to formalize their chosen family. Whatever the reason, the show examines the complex motivations and emotions behind these adoptions.

The premiere episode introduces viewers to Marlo, a 65-year-old woman who wants to adopt her friend and part-time caregiver Lakeisha, who is in her 30s. Marlo's health is declining and she wants to ensure Lakeisha can make medical decisions for her. Lakeisha is hesitant at first, worried how it will impact her life and independence. Over the course of the episode, Marlo and Lakeisha thoughtfully navigate the adoption process, culminating in an emotional courthouse ceremony.

Another memorable episode follows Benny, a gay man in his 40s who wants to adopt his best friend Alex in his 50s. They have been extremely close for over a decade, considering each other family. Adoption would give them legal rights and cement their bond. Not everyone understands their unique relationship, causing rifts with Alex's biological relatives. Benny and Alex must weigh their profound connection against outside opinions.

Some adoptions on the show are mutually sought out, while others stem from a unilateral desire. An episode focuses on Joyce, a childless widow who wishes to adopt her neighbor Nora, a young single mother she has grown close to. Nora appreciates Joyce's kindness but struggles with the major life change adoption would bring. This complex situation reveals the joys and difficulties of forging new families in adulthood.

The individuals featured on Adults Adopting Adults come from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Their touching stories explore the evolving notion of family and the deep human need for connection at any age. Without sensationalizing, the show presents an honest look at the reasons everyday people pursue adoptions as adults and the transformative potential of these new relationships.

Overall, Adults Adopting Adults is a thoughtful examination of a non-traditional way to create kinship. The show balances the legal practicalities of adult adoption with the poignant emotional bonds at its core. Viewers get an inside look at real people bravely forming new families and forging ahead into beautiful unknowns.

Adults Adopting Adults is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between January 31, 2022 and on A&E