Where do I file an adult adoption in Missouri?

Determine venue from Missouri law and the actual parties' circumstances, not from a guessed county based only on a ZIP code. File with the appropriate juvenile division of the circuit court and follow its adult-adoption instructions.

Missouri's venue provision

Section 453.010 identifies venue choices based on the petitioner's residence, the adoptee's birthplace or location, or a birth person's residence. Existing court jurisdiction can also matter under the section. Confirm which provision applies to the actual case before filing.

The same section addresses a petitioner's spouse joining the petition and the court's ability to order joinder. Do not assume the spouse's role is identical to the adult adoptee's consent.

Adult consent and court approval

Section 453.030(10) provides that an adoptee aged 18 or older gives the consent sufficient for adult adoption. Section 453.030(1) still requires court approval based on the welfare of the person sought to be adopted. The agreement is not an automatic decree.

Ask your court about the packet

Confirm the adult petition, required consents or joinder, proposed order, filing method, any required appearance and adoption reporting documents. Ask whether local instructions address additional review or notice. Do not import a minor-child abandonment packet into an adult case.

Budget and schedule locally

Ask the clerk for current adult-adoption filing and certified-copy charges. The old answer's $280 statewide estimate and four-to-eight-week promise were not established by the cited statute. A court date or approved remote format must be confirmed with the actual court.

SA360's standard preparation is $349 for the first adoptee and $99 per additional adoptee, with court costs separate. Residence and jurisdiction determine the court; fee shopping should not replace that analysis.

Prepare these records

• The parties' names, birth information and current residence.
• Marriage information and any existing parentage orders.
• The adult's consent and the requested legal name.
• The court's current filing and hearing instructions.

Read the adult-adoption overview, name-change planning, and Missouri's state guide before starting the questionnaire.