In this answer · 5 sections
Budget for the preparation service, court charges, and the expenses your particular filing needs. The North Carolina Judicial Branch's 2026 chart lists $120 in ordinary non-foreclosure special-proceeding court charges. North Carolina adoption is a special proceeding before the clerk of superior court. That court amount is separate from Stepparent Adoption 360's document-preparation price.
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| Expense | Amount or planning method | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| SA360 document preparation | $349 for the first adoptee; $99 per additional adoptee | The people included in your service order |
| Ordinary special-proceeding court charges | $120 in the 2026 court chart | The amount due when you file and any additional case charges |
| Sheriff service | $30 for each item of civil process served by the sheriff | Who needs notice and the service method used |
| Motion-related notice of hearing | $20 when the statutory charge applies | Whether your filing is a chargeable motion-related notice; this is not an automatic fee for every adoption hearing |
| Copies, acknowledgments, and mailing | Obtain local prices | Required original sets, certified copies, and signature arrangements |
| Birth-record processing | Ask the appropriate vital-records office | The adoptee's birth state, requested amendment, and certificate copies |
| Individual legal help or a court-appointed representative | Obtain a case-specific quote | Contested notice, capacity questions, or other work requiring separate help |
The $120 court-chart total consists of a $106 General Court of Justice fee, a $10 facilities fee, and a $4 telecommunications fee. The statute also addresses when portions are payable. Ask the clerk how charges are collected rather than assuming every cost is due at the same point. See the 2026 court charts and G.S. 7A-306.
A useful one-adoptee example
For one adoptee, $349 preparation plus $120 ordinary court charges is $469 before other expenses. It is a starting subtotal. If sheriff service is required for two items, that service adds $60; different service methods have different expenses. Mailing, copies, record changes, and any separately retained legal help still belong in your budget.
For multiple adoptees, the service price adds $99 for each additional person. Confirm with the clerk whether the court requires separate proceedings and separate charges. One service order does not determine how many court files are required.
Notice can affect the cost
Adult adoption does not mean that every family can skip service. North Carolina's notice statute identifies family members who must receive notice. A parental-notice waiver requires a court decision for cause; it should not be assumed when estimating costs.
Before choosing a service method, list each required recipient and ask what proof must be filed. A missing address can change both the work needed and the schedule. Our North Carolina notice guide helps you organize those questions.
Keep three amounts separate
Write down the preparation price, the court's assessed charges, and your other expenses on separate lines. Keep receipts and the clerk's current instructions with your paperwork. Ask whether certified copies or a later vital-record request will require another payment. If affordability is a concern, ask the clerk about available court-cost relief and ask our team about service payment arrangements before relying on either.
Use the adoption roadmap and budget calculator to add your own confirmed expenses. Then follow the North Carolina filing roadmap. Court schedules and case requirements remain separate from purchasing document preparation.
More North Carolina adult-adoption guides
Timing and hearings · Adult stepchild eligibility · Consents and signatures · Age and legal status · Who adopts whom · Family notice · Filing roadmap.
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