Both

Perfect — I'll walk you through both.

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## What to Say in Your Request for Virtual Hearing

When you file your adoption petition in New York, include a simple cover letter or motion. Here's the approach:

Keep it brief and factual:

"Dear [Court Name],

We are filing this petition for adult adoption. Due to serious health conditions, neither the petitioner (residing in Florida) nor the adoptee (residing in New York) is able to travel or physically appear in court.

We respectfully request that the final adoption hearing be conducted remotely via telephone or video conference (Zoom, etc.). We are available for any date and time the court schedules and will ensure all parties are present virtually.

Thank you for your consideration of this accommodation.

Sincerely,

[Names]"

You don't need to provide detailed medical documentation upfront — just state the health limitation clearly. If the court needs more information, they'll ask.

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## Filing Process Overview (New York Adult Adoption)

Here's the step-by-step:

1. Get Your Documents Prepared

• Fill out our questionnaire at stepparentadoption360.com/questionnaire (takes ~15 minutes)
• We prepare all your New York adoption documents within 24 hours
• Includes: Petition for Adoption, Consent forms, Order of Adoption, filing instructions, new birth certificate application

2. Review & Sign Documents

• Your stepfather (petitioner) signs the petition
• The adult adoptee signs their consent
• The adoptee's birth parent (your mom/his spouse) signs consent if applicable

3. File with the Court

• Choose either Surrogate's Court or Family Court in the county where the adoptee lives
• File the signed petition and supporting documents
• No filing fee in New York (one of the only states with $0 fee!)
• Include your cover letter requesting virtual hearing

4. Court Processing

• Court reviews the petition (typically 2-4 weeks)
• Court schedules a hearing date
• You'll receive notice of the hearing date/time

5. The Hearing

• Virtual hearing via phone or Zoom
• Judge asks a few questions confirming everyone understands the adoption and consents
• Very brief — usually 10-20 minutes
• More of a celebration than an interrogation

6. Finalization

• Judge signs the Order of Adoption
• You receive certified copies
• Use the order to request a new birth certificate from New York State Department of Health

Timeline: 4-8 weeks total from filing to finalization for adult adoptions

No home study. No background check. No investigation for adult adoptions.

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## What We Provide

For $349, we prepare:

• Complete New York adult adoption petition customized with your information
• All consent forms
• Order of Adoption (for judge to sign)
• New birth certificate application
• Step-by-step filing instructions specific to New York
• Unlimited email support throughout the process
• Unlimited form revisions if needed
• 100% court acceptance guarantee

You handle: Filing the documents with the court (or mailing them), attending the virtual hearing, requesting the new birth certificate after finalization.

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Compare to attorney: An attorney would charge $2,000-$5,000+ for an uncontested adult adoption. You're doing the same adoption for $349 + $0 court fees = $349 total.

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Does this make sense? Do you have questions about any specific step, or are you ready to get started with the questionnaire?