Can I attend the adoption hearing virtually in Florida?

Many Florida courts now offer virtual or telephonic hearings for adoption finalization. This became more common during COVID-19 and many courts have continued the practice.

Virtual hearing availability in Florida:

• Varies by county and individual judge
• Some Circuit Court courts offer Zoom or WebEx hearings
• Others may allow telephonic appearances
• Some courts have returned to in-person only

How to request a virtual hearing:

1. When filing your petition, ask the clerk if virtual hearings are available
2. Some courts require a written motion requesting remote participation
3. We include guidance on this in your document package

Who can appear virtually:

• The adopting stepparent
• The biological parent (your spouse)
• The child (if consent is required at age 12+)

Our recommendation:

• In-person is better if possible — the finalization hearing is a celebration, and many families treasure the experience of being in the courtroom
• Virtual is great for military families stationed far from their filing court, or families with scheduling constraints
• Some judges prefer in-person for the child's consent portion

Either way, the result is the same — a finalized adoption order with full legal effect.

Cost: $349 | Timeline: 3 months | Call (855) 924-0450 to discuss.