Quick answer
Get a certified copy from the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Clearwater, then send it to us — we file it in person in Tallahassee. $220, 5–7 business days.
- Certified copy from
- Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- County seat
- Clearwater
- Clerk website
- mypinellasclerk.gov
- Pinellas County government
- pinellas.gov
- Florida state fee
- $20 — included in $220
- Electronic certified copies
- The Clerk issues electronically certified documents and provides an eCertification verification tool on its website.
- Nearest appointment office
- Clearwater office, by appointment
- Turnaround
- 5–7 business days, filed in person
Where to get a certified adoption documents in Pinellas County
In Pinellas County, the certified copy comes from the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Clearwater.
The Clerk issues electronically certified documents and provides an eCertification verification tool on its website. 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 Clearwater office (2536 Countryside Blvd, Suite 540) 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 Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and 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).