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

To get a copy of your adoption order in Utah, ask the clerk of the District Court in the county where your adoption was finalized, and request certified copies. The District Court issues the order, so the clerk's office is the place to go, both right after finalization and years later.

Right after your adoption is finalized

• Ask the court clerk for certified copies before you leave the courthouse, or ask how to request them afterward.
• Ask the clerk how many copies you can get, what each certified copy costs, and whether they are handed to you or mailed. These details can vary by county, so the clerk in your county is the best source.
• Request more than one certified copy. Several agencies and offices will want an official copy, and it is easier to order them all at once.

If you need a copy later

• Contact the clerk of the District Court where the adoption was finalized.
• Have the case number, the child's name, and the approximate finalization date ready.
• Ask the clerk what fee applies and how long it will take, since the clerk can confirm both.
• If you are not sure which county handled your case, check your paperwork from the filing. The court's name and county appear on it.

Where you will likely use the order

• Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics: This is the agency to contact about a new birth certificate after an adoption. Ask the agency exactly what it needs from you, including whether it requires a certified copy of the order, and what its fees are.
• Health insurance: Your insurer may ask for the order when you add your child as a dependent.
• School records: Schools may ask for the order if you are updating your child's name or parent information.
• Passport applications and personal records: Keep certified copies for these, stored with your other important family documents.

Keep the originals safe

Store your certified copies somewhere secure, such as a fireproof box. Use a copy, not your only original, when an office asks for one, and ask whether the office will return it.

If something looks wrong on the order

If a name, date, or other detail on the order appears incorrect, contact the District Court clerk right away to ask how to get it corrected. What the correction process looks like depends on your case, so the clerk or an attorney can advise you on your specific situation.

Timing

Stepparent adoptions in Utah typically take 3-6 months from start to finish. Your order is issued at the end of that process, so you will not have it while your case is still pending.

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, ready within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. You then file it yourself without an attorney. 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 318 Utah families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.