How do I file for stepparent adoption in Miami, Florida?

You file for stepparent adoption in Miami by preparing a petition and supporting documents and filing them with the Circuit Court in your county, which is the court that handles adoptions in Florida. Florida adoption law is in Florida Statutes Chapter 63, and the same rules apply statewide, including in Miami.

The basic steps:

• Gather your information. You will need details about you, your spouse, the child and the other parent.
• Prepare your court documents. These include the petition, the consents, and a motion asking the court to search the Putative Father Registry.
• File with the Circuit Court clerk. Ask the clerk in your county about local filing procedures and how to pay the fee.
• Complete the background checks. Florida requires FDLE and FBI background checks.
• Attend your hearing. The court reviews your case and, if everything is in order, finalizes the adoption.

What Florida requires:

• Residency: Florida sets no minimum residency period for stepparent adoption.
• Consent: Consent requirements are in Fla. Stat. § 63.062, and they include the consent of a child who is 12 or older.
• Other parent's rights: Florida sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct (Fla. Stat. § 63.089). If the other parent will not consent, or you do not know where they are, the outcome depends on your facts. Talk to the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about that issue. Consent waiver is covered in Fla. Stat. § 63.064.
• Putative Father Registry: The registry must be searched in each adoption proceeding (Fla. Stat. § 63.054).
• Home study: A home study is waived for stepparents (Fla. Stat. § 63.092).
• Attorney: Florida allows you to represent yourself in a stepparent adoption.

What the adoption does: Under Fla. Stat. § 63.172, the adoption ends the other parent's parental rights and child support obligations at the same time. It also gives your stepchild inheritance rights and gives you full parental rights and responsibilities, including medical and educational decision-making.

Timeline and cost: A stepparent adoption typically takes about 3 months. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the total typically comes to under $1,000. Attorney-handled adoptions often cost $3,000-$5,000+. The exact filing fee and any local procedures can be confirmed with the Circuit Court clerk in your county.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.