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

In North Carolina, you get a copy of your adoption order by asking the clerk of the District Court in the county where your adoption was finalized. The easiest time to ask is at the end of your finalization hearing, before you leave the courthouse.

Getting copies at the hearing:

• Ask the court clerk whether certified copies can be issued that day or whether they are mailed to you.
• Request certified copies, not plain photocopies. Agencies usually want a copy bearing the court's certification.
• Ask for more than one certified copy. You will likely need to hand the order to several offices, and it is easier to get them all at once.
• Ask the clerk what each copy costs and how payment is accepted. Fees and processing times vary by county, so the clerk can give you the exact figures.

Getting copies later:

If you didn't get copies at the hearing, or you need more down the road, contact the District Court clerk in the county where the adoption was finalized. Have this ready:

• The case (file) number, if you have it
• The names on the adoption
• The approximate date of finalization
• Payment for the copying and certification fee

The clerk can tell you whether you can request copies by mail or in person, and how long it takes.

Where you will probably use the order:

• Birth certificate: North Carolina Vital Records is the agency that handles the child's birth certificate. Contact them to ask what they need from you after the adoption, including whether they require a certified copy of the order.
• Health insurance: Your insurer may ask for the order to add your child as a dependent.
• School and medical records: Schools and providers may want proof of the change in your child's legal name or parentage.
• Passport and other ID: Expect to show the order when applying for a passport or updating other documents.

Each agency sets its own rules, so check in advance whether it wants an original certified copy or will accept a photocopy. Then you know how many certified copies to request.

Keep them safe:

Store your certified copies with other important family papers, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards. If you later lose them, the District Court clerk where the adoption was finalized is the place to start.

Timing:

Stepparent adoptions in North Carolina typically take about 3-6 months from start to finish. Once the court finalizes the adoption, you can request copies right away.

If your situation is unusual:

If you are unsure which court handled your adoption, or the adoption was finalized long ago, call the clerk's office in the county where you think it was filed. If something about your order looks incorrect, ask the clerk or an attorney how to handle it, because the answer depends on the specifics of your case.

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 and $99 for each additional child, and every package comes with our 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 914 North Carolina families, and more than 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. For comparison, court filing fees in North Carolina typically run $150-$300, and a typical total cost with our service is under $1,000.