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

To get a copy of your adoption order in Tennessee, ask the clerk of the Chancery or Circuit Court that finalized your adoption for certified copies, ideally right after the finalization hearing. That clerk's office keeps the court file, so it is also where you go if you need copies later.

Getting copies at finalization:

• Once the judge signs the Order of Adoption, ask the court clerk how to request certified copies.
• Ask whether copies are available the same day or mailed, since handling can differ from one of Tennessee's 95 counties to the next.
• Ask the clerk what each certified copy costs and how they accept payment. The clerk in your county can confirm the exact fee.
• Request several certified copies, because many offices want an original certified copy rather than a photocopy and may keep it.

Getting copies later:

• Contact the clerk of the Chancery or Circuit Court where the adoption was finalized.
• Have the case number, the child's name, and the approximate date of finalization ready.
• Ask the clerk about the certification fee and how long a request takes. Both can vary by county.

Where you may need the order:

• Tennessee Office of Vital Records: Contact them about updating the child's birth record, and ask exactly which documents they require.
• Health insurance: Your plan administrator can tell you what proof it needs to add the child.
• School records: The school office can explain what it needs to update the child's name or parent information.
• Passport and other records: Agencies will tell you whether they accept a certified copy. Keep one set in a safe place with your other important family documents.

Timing: Stepparent adoptions in Tennessee typically take about 3-6 months from filing to finalization, so the order itself comes at the end of that process. Until the judge signs it, there is nothing to copy.

Costs: Court filing fees for the adoption generally run $150-$350, and the total typically stays under $1,000. Attorney-handled stepparent adoptions often run $3,000-$5,000+. Certified copy fees are set by the clerk, so ask when you request them.

If something goes wrong: If you cannot find your case number, or the clerk says the file is not where you expected, ask the clerk to search by names. If the adoption was contested or involved an unknown parent, the file may be handled differently. Ask the clerk or an attorney about your specific situation.

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 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 one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child, backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 967 Tennessee families, and 34,000+ families nationally since 2001.