How do I get a copy of the adoption order in Arkansas?

You get a copy of your Arkansas adoption order from the clerk of the Circuit Court that finalized your adoption, either at the end of the hearing or by requesting it afterward with your case number. In Arkansas, adoption cases are heard in the probate division of the circuit court, or the juvenile division when it is exercising adoption jurisdiction, and that court's clerk keeps the file.

At the finalization hearing:

• The judge signs the order in the courtroom.
• Ask the clerk about certified copies right after the hearing, while you are still at the courthouse.
• Ask whether copies can be handed to you that day or will be mailed, and how long mailing takes. Practices vary by county, and the clerk in your county can confirm.

How many copies to ask for: Plan for more than one certified copy, because several offices will want an original-quality copy rather than a photocopy. Think through where yours will go:

• Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records, to update the child's birth certificate
• Your health insurance company, to add the child as a dependent
• The child's school
• A passport application
• Your own file of important family papers

Ask the clerk what each certified copy costs and whether there is a limit on how many you can request at once.

If you need a copy later: Contact the Circuit Court clerk in the county where the adoption was finalized. It helps to have:

• The child's name as it appeared on the petition
• The names of the adopting parent and the other parent
• The case number and the approximate date of finalization
• Payment for the copy and certification fee, which the clerk can quote you

If you do not remember the case number, the clerk's office can usually help you look it up by name and date. Call ahead to ask about accepted payment methods and whether requests can be made by mail.

Using the order for a new birth certificate: Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records handles birth certificate changes. Contact that agency for its current application form, fee and mailing instructions before you send your certified copy, so you do not send the wrong thing. Do this early, because you may need that birth certificate for other things afterward.

Keep it safe: Store at least one certified copy with your other vital documents, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards. Avoid laminating it, since some offices will not accept a laminated document.

If something looks wrong: If you notice a misspelled name or a wrong date on the order, tell the clerk promptly. How a correction is handled depends on the details of your case, so the clerk or an attorney can advise you on that specific issue.

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 Arkansas county, which you file yourself without an attorney. Documents are court-ready within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and we back it with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 814 Arkansas families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.