In this answer · 7 sections
Florida adult-adoption costs include the chosen preparation or legal service, the court filing, and any notice, investigation or record expenses that apply. Adult adoption can avoid some ordinary placement steps, but it is not automatically a no-notice, no-investigation proceeding with a fixed all-in price.
StepParent Adoption 360 charges $349 for preparation for the first adoptee; additional adoptees are $99 each. Optional mailed documents add $99. The court and outside providers charge separately.
Start with a worked budget
For one adult, $349 preparation plus a $400 adoption filing gives a $749 subtotal. A $443 filing gives a $792 subtotal. These calculations exclude optional mailing, notice or service, copies, birth records, travel and any additional professional work. They are not a promise that your case ends at that price.
Separate the costs by purpose
| Cost category | What to confirm before budgeting |
|---|---|
| Preparation or representation | The service scope and your selected options |
| Court filing | The adoption entry for your court and case type; what it includes |
| Parents' hearing notice | Who must receive it, how to provide it and what proof to file |
| Court-directed investigation | Whether the judge requires one and how it will be performed |
| Final order and birth record | Required copies, the relevant records office and delivery choices |
| Travel and time away from work | Actual attendance instructions and the hearing arrangement |
Check the local filing charge
The official schedules checked October 6, 2026 list a $400 Family Law adoption entry including sealing in Hillsborough, a $400 adoption entry in Orange, and $443 including sealing in Miami-Dade. Confirm the clerk's charge for your adult petition. These examples do not establish the rate in every Florida county.
A stand-alone adult name change is a different proceeding. Do not substitute its filing or fingerprint instructions for the requirements of an adult adoption simply because a name change is requested in your petition.
Include notice even when parental consent is different
Florida Statutes §63.062(8) requires the adult adoptee's written consent and the adult's spouse's consent, if married, unless the court waives the spouse's consent for good cause. It also requires written notice of the final hearing to the parents, if any, or filed proof that notice was served as provided in the chapter.
Notice and consent do different jobs. Do not budget zero for every parent's notice on the theory that an adult can choose adoption. Confirm who must be notified, the permitted method and the proof the court needs. A missing address or a difficult relationship deserves a case-specific answer before purchasing a notice service or omitting the step.
Check the court's investigation instructions
§63.092 excepts an adult adoptee from the ordinary preliminary home study but allows one for good cause. §63.122(5) separately permits the court to order an appropriate investigation after an adult petition is filed. Neither provision supports a blanket promise that the judge can never require investigation-related work.
The same hearing statute permits an adult hearing immediately after filing. That is not a guaranteed scheduling or completion period. Confirm local scheduling before paying for travel or taking leave from work.
Plan what happens after the order
Ask how many certified orders you need and which office handles the birth record. Florida's Department of Health amendment page lists a $20 adoption-amendment fee including one certification for a Florida record. If the record is held elsewhere, confirm that jurisdiction's requirements and prices.
Do not use presumed tax credits, benefit changes or inheritance outcomes to make the filing affordable without verifying eligibility. Compare the actual legal purpose and costs before proceeding. If consent, notice or financial consequences are uncertain, obtain advice for that issue; preparation alone does not resolve it.
Related Florida planning guides
- How much does stepparent adoption cost in Florida?
- What are the court filing fees for adoption in Florida?
- Do I need to pay for a home study for stepparent adoption in Florida?
- What does a Florida family law attorney charge for stepparent adoption?
- What is the cost of stepparent adoption near Tampa, Florida?
Use the county schedule and the guide for your adoption type to complete your budget.
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