In this answer · 6 sections
Budget separately for document preparation, the Florida court filing, and any services your case actually needs. StepParent Adoption 360's preparation fee is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court and third-party charges are paid separately. Optional mailed documents add $99 when selected.
For one child, $349 preparation plus a $400 court filing is $749 before mailing and other expenses. With Miami-Dade's posted $443 adoption charge, that same subtotal is $792. These are worked budgets, not all-inclusive quotes or a promise that every Florida case costs the same.
Build your budget in three parts
| Budget item | What to enter | Who sets the amount |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | $349 for the first child; $99 for each additional child | StepParent Adoption 360 |
| Optional mailed documents | Add $99 if you select that option | StepParent Adoption 360 |
| Adoption filing | The current adoption charge for your court | The county clerk |
| Required notice or service | The method and number of people your case requires | The court's requirements and service provider |
| Copies, birth-record amendment and travel | The quantities and services you choose or need | The clerk, records office and relevant providers |
| An investigation or legal representation | Include only after checking whether required or needed | The court and the chosen professional |
Keep a subtotal for confirmed amounts and a separate line for costs you still need to check. An unknown expense should not silently become zero.
Use your county's adoption schedule
The schedules checked on October 6, 2026 list $400 in Hillsborough's Family Law section, $400 on Orange County's family page, and $443 for adoption including sealing on Miami-Dade's family page. Confirm your case classification and current charge before paying. These examples do not verify all 67 counties.
Ask whether the listed amount includes sealing, whether your payment method adds a charge, and whether separate petitions or additional children affect the filing amount. Do not automatically add a sealing fee to a price that already includes it. Our additional-child preparation price is not a promise about how the court charges for multiple children.
What the other parent's agreement can change
A valid consent may simplify the legal route, but it does not erase the court filing charge or every notice requirement. Florida Statutes §63.122 addresses hearing timing and notice. The court can hear a qualifying stepparent petition immediately after filing when all required valid consents are filed; that is permission to schedule, not a guaranteed appointment or completion date.
If a parent has not consented, cannot be located or may object, settle the applicable legal steps before using a simple uncontested budget. The number of papers and recipients, required search efforts and any court-authorized publication can change expenses. Get a quote for the actual method rather than assuming a universal sheriff or newspaper price.
Check investigation and record costs
Florida provides a stepparent exception to the ordinary preliminary home study, while allowing the court to require one for good cause. A court-directed final investigation is also possible. Read the Florida home-study cost guide before treating either expense as automatic or impossible.
For a Florida birth record, the Department of Health's adoption-amendment instructions list a $20 amendment fee including one certification. Other copies, delivery choices and a record held in another state need their own price check. Budget court-order copies separately from birth certificates.
Make the next financial decision
If the court filing is difficult to afford, ask the clerk about the civil-indigent application under §57.082. Eligibility is assessed; court fee relief does not cancel a private preparation fee or every third-party expense.
StepParent Adoption 360 has helped more than 34,000 families. We prepare documents; you handle your filing and court participation. Review the current service terms and your order options before purchasing. An acceptance guarantee should be read with those terms; the judge decides whether to grant an adoption.
Related Florida planning guides
- What are the court filing fees for adoption in Florida?
- How much does adult adoption cost 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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Page layout updated . Individual answers have different research histories. This is general information; court requirements and individual circumstances can differ. Document preparation service, not a law firm.
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