What is the residency requirement for adoption in Florida?

Florida has no minimum residency period for a stepparent adoption. You don't have to live in the state for a set number of months before you file your petition. That means a recent move to Florida does not, by itself, put your adoption on hold.

What this means for you

• There is no waiting period tied to how long you, your spouse, or your child have lived in Florida.
• Your petition is filed in the Circuit Court. Florida has 67 counties, and the Circuit Court clerk in your county can tell you where your case should be filed and what that office needs from you.
• If your situation involves a recent or unusual move, such as living in more than one state, ask the clerk or an attorney how it applies to your case.

Adult adoption

If you are adopting an adult, Florida Statutes Chapter 63 contains no residency requirement for that either. Adult adoptions are also heard in the Circuit Court. The clerk can confirm which county to file in.

Requirements that do apply

Although residency is not a hurdle, other steps are part of a Florida stepparent adoption:

• Consent: A child who is 12 or older has a consent role under Fla. Stat. § 63.062.
• Putative Father Registry: The registry must be searched in each adoption under Fla. Stat. § 63.054.
• Home study: Stepparents are exempt from the home study under Fla. Stat. § 63.092.
• Background checks: FDLE and FBI background checks are required.
• Effect of adoption: Under Fla. Stat. § 63.172, a stepparent adoption ends the other parent's child support obligation and parental rights at the same time.

Timeline and cost

A stepparent adoption in Florida typically takes about 3 months. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the total typical cost is under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ for hiring an attorney. Florida allows you to represent yourself in a stepparent adoption.

When to get extra help

If the other parent may contest the adoption, can't be found, or your family's circumstances are complicated, the answer depends on the specific facts. Ask the Circuit Court clerk about procedure, or an attorney about your legal questions.

How we help

StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child (or one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and they come with our 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 1228 Florida families, and 34,000+ families nationally since 2001.