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

In Connecticut, you get a copy of your adoption order by asking the clerk of the Probate Court that finalized your adoption, and it is best to request certified copies. Here is how to approach it.

Start with the Probate Court clerk. Connecticut stepparent adoptions are handled by the Probate Court. The clerk in the district where your adoption was finalized keeps the court file and can tell you how to request copies. If you are still going through the process, ask the clerk about copies before or at the time your adoption is finalized, so you know the procedure in advance.

What to have ready if you are asking after the fact:

• The full name of the child as it appeared on the adoption petition
• The names of the adopting stepparent and the legal parent
• The approximate date the adoption was finalized
• The case or docket number, if you have it
• Your photo ID, since the court may ask who is requesting the record

Ask the clerk these questions. Copy fees, the number of copies you can request at once, whether you can request by mail or must come in person, and how long it takes all depend on the individual court. The Probate Court clerk in your county can confirm each of these, so ask rather than guess. Also ask whether the copy you receive is a certified copy, since agencies usually want a certified copy rather than a photocopy.

Why you may want several certified copies. Once you have the order, you will likely be dealing with several offices:

• Vital records: The Connecticut Department of Public Health Vital Records handles birth certificates. Ask them what documents they require to issue an updated certificate after an adoption.
• Health insurance: Your plan administrator can tell you what proof they need to add your child as a dependent.
• School records: The school office can tell you whether it needs a copy or only a name change form.
• Passports and other ID: Ask the agency whether it wants an original certified copy or will accept another form.

Since some offices may keep the copy you hand them, asking for several certified copies up front can save you a return trip to the clerk. Store the extras with your other important family papers, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards.

How long until you have an order. For a stepparent adoption in Connecticut, the overall timeline is typically 3-6 months. The order comes at the end of that process, so if you are just starting, you will not have one right away.

If your situation is unusual. If you have lost track of which court handled the adoption, the adoption happened in another state, or there is a dispute about who may receive the records, the Probate Court clerk or an attorney can advise you on your specific circumstances.

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. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child (or for one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. We come with a 100% court acceptance guarantee and have helped 158 Connecticut families, and more than 34,000 families nationwide since 2001.