Quick answer
Get a certified copy from the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller in Bradenton, then send it to us — we file it in person in Tallahassee. $220, 5–7 business days.
- Certified copy from
- Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- County seat
- Bradenton
- Clerk website
- manateeclerk.com
- Manatee County government
- mymanatee.org
- Florida state fee
- $20 — included in $220
- Electronic certified copies
- The Clerk offers electronically certified Official Records documents and, since May 2024, electronically certified court records ordered online.
- Nearest appointment office
- Tampa office, by appointment
- Turnaround
- 5–7 business days, filed in person
Where to get a certified adoption documents in Manatee County
In Manatee County, the certified copy comes from the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller in Bradenton.
The Clerk offers electronically certified Official Records documents and, since May 2024, electronically certified court records ordered online. An official electronic certified copy, printed exactly as delivered, can be used for the apostille — send us a photo first if you're unsure.
Meet us in person: our Tampa office (2202 N Westshore Blvd, Ste 2275E) takes appointments Monday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM. Or order online and ship by FedEx.
What the copy must look like
The final judgment of adoption certified by the Florida Clerk of Court (wet-ink or official e-certification), with all pages attached; its state fee is $20. The new birth certificate must be a certified copy signed by the State Registrar and certified in 2014 or later; its state fee is $10. Both fees are included in our price.
State fee: $20 — included in our $220. Fees the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller charges for the certified copy are not included.
Why adoption documentss get rejected
- Plain or conformed copy of the judgment instead of a certified one
- Birth certificate certified before 2014
- Birth certificate from another state, which that state must apostille
- Translation stapled to the certified original
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).