In this answer · 5 sections
StepParent Adoption 360's standard document preparation is $349 for the first adoptee. Court charges are separate. For a concrete Texas example, the Harris County District Clerk's schedule lists adult adoption at $350, producing a $699 subtotal for preparation plus that filing charge. This is a Harris County example before other expenses, not a statewide all-inclusive price.
Use the adult case category
The Harris County civil and family fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, separates adult adoption from adoption involving a child and from adoption with termination. Ask your own clerk for the category and charges applying to your actual petition. Do not automatically copy child-adoption registry or service charges into an adult budget.
| Texas budget line | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Our document preparation | $349 for the first adoptee; $99 per additional adoptee in the same case. |
| County filing charge | Harris County lists $350 for adult adoption; obtain your county's current quote. |
| Process issuance and service | Ask whether any are required and whether quoted charges include them. |
| Certified orders and records | Specify the copies you need and ask about the applicable charge. |
| Hearing attendance | Plan for work schedules and travel, or obtain an applicable court order. |
| Additional legal help | Get an attorney's written scope and fee quote when needed. |
Confirm where the petition belongs
Texas Family Code §162.502 requires filing in the petitioner's county of residence, in a district court or a statutory county court with the specified family-law jurisdiction. A Harris County fee example does not mean every Texas family should file there.
Tell the clerk that the person being adopted is an adult. Ask whether this is a new suit, what local submission requirements apply, and what payment methods or electronic-filing charges you should expect.
Account for signatures and the hearing
The adult must consent in writing. If the petitioner is married, both spouses must join in the petition under §162.503. That makes the old statement that only the adoptee's consent is needed an incomplete description of the paperwork.
Section 162.505 requires the petitioner and adult to attend the hearing, with a written-order exception for good cause when a person cannot attend. Requesting an exception is different from receiving it. Plan your schedule around the actual court date, rather than a promised four-to-eight-week finish.
Ask about affordability before filing
If you cannot afford court costs, ask the clerk about the applicable inability-to-pay procedure and the documents needed. The Harris County schedule identifies protections for an uncontested Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. A request is not a guarantee of the outcome, and court-cost relief does not automatically pay a private preparation or attorney bill.
Get an itemized total
Request a quote that separates the filing charge, any required issuance or service, copies and other court charges. Keep your records and attorney expenses separately. Adult adoption also changes legal relationships and inheritance under §162.507; obtain advice about your estate plan if that is part of your goal.
The reviewed Texas court-fee guide explains the difference between adult and minor entries. If another jurisdiction applies, use the separate California or Alaska cost guide. When ready, start the Texas adult-adoption questionnaire with your actual filing county and marital circumstances.
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