How do I file for stepparent adoption in Florida?

For a minor stepchild, Florida's standard route is a joint petition filed in circuit court by the adopting stepparent and the child's parent who is married to that stepparent. Before submitting anything, work out the required consents, notice and supporting records. Filing opens the case; the judge decides whether the legal requirements are met.

Your filing roadmap

Start with the right petition and attachments

Florida Courts posts Form 12.981(b)(1), Joint Petition for Adoption by Stepparent. The court-hosted PDF carries a November 2015 revision date. Obtain the current packet and supplemental requirements from your filing court rather than assuming an older statewide PDF includes every local requirement.

The posted petition calls for both spouses' signatures, the child's identifying information and proposed name, residence and marriage history, reasons for adoption, and facts about any person whose required consent has not been obtained. Its instructions identify certified birth records, applicable consents or other supporting documents, a UCCJEA affidavit and a registry-search motion where applicable. These documents serve different purposes; one form cannot substitute for the entire packet.

Use our family records organizer to collect names, dates, existing orders and source documents before you complete the petition. Resolve inconsistent spellings and dates before signing under oath.

Determine consent and notice before scheduling

Under §63.062, the child's age and the legal status of the parents matter. A child 12 or older generally must consent unless the court dispenses with that consent in the child's best interest. The other parent's signature requirements cannot be decided solely from absence, an informal family agreement or a missing name on a document.

Section 63.102(6) permits the stepparent route without a separate termination judgment or separate termination proceeding. That does not remove the need to establish the legal basis for adoption, obtain required consents or satisfy applicable notice and service requirements. If consent is disputed or someone cannot be located, obtain legal help with that part of the case before treating publication as an automatic substitute.

Review, sign and submit

The posted joint petition directs both spouses to sign before a notary public or deputy clerk. Follow each separate consent's own execution requirements; do not assume the petition's signing rule covers every attachment.

Ask the clerk which originals, copies, confidential-document procedures and current filing method apply. After submission, keep the accepted copies and assigned case number. Confirm the actual charge using our Florida court-fee guide; court charges are separate from document preparation.

Our standard preparation price is $349, plus $99 for each additional child in the same case. We help prepare the paperwork from your information. The court controls acceptance, hearings and its orders; a document-preparation service does not represent you in a contested case.

Finish the court's prerequisites

Follow the required service route and retain proof. Check whether the judge has ordered any investigation, report or additional documents. Request a hearing through the court's actual scheduling process once the prerequisites are satisfied. Permission for an immediate hearing under §63.122 is conditional and does not promise an available hearing slot or a fixed completion date.

Continue with choosing the Florida court, home-study requirements, and preparing for the hearing. If you discover a signed or filed error, use our paperwork correction guide before altering the document.

Official references

• Florida Courts: posted joint petition and instructions, revision 11/2015
• Florida Statutes §63.062: consent and related requirements
• Florida Statutes §63.102: petition and stepparent procedure
• Florida Statutes §63.112: petition contents and supporting documents

Reviewed October 6, 2026. This guide addresses Florida minor stepparent filing; your court's current instructions and orders determine the requirements for your case.