ADOPT-215 records the adopting parents, the child, the hearing and the judge’s findings, and orders the adoption. Once signed, the form says the adopting parents and the child are parent and child under the law. It cites Family Code sections including 8612, 8714 and 8900–9000.5, Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.24 and California Rules of Court, rule 5.730.
When it is used
Who fills in what
The adopting parents or their lawyer complete items 1–4. Page 2 says the judge fills out the section that follows, and the clerk completes the certificate of mailing in item 14 for the adoption of an Indian child.
Section by section
What each part asks
Use the current official form and its instructions. The descriptions below identify the questions without choosing answers for your situation.
Page 1 · Parents, child and hearing
1 · Adopting parents
Names, addresses, daytime telephones and any lawyer.
2–3 · Child and agency
The child’s name after adoption, date and place of birth, and any adoption agency.
4 · Hearing
Date, department, judicial officer and who was present, or a hearing waived under Family Code section 9000.5 for confirming parentage.
Pages 2–3 · Findings and order
5–6 · Findings
Whether the child is 12 or older and agrees, notice to everyone with parental rights, and each adopting parent’s qualifications.
7–11 · Particular adoptions
The child’s name before adoption, Indian Child Welfare Act findings, a Contact After Adoption Agreement (ADOPT-310), tribal customary adoption and Hague Convention adoption (ADOPT-216).
12–13 · More than two parents and the order
Existing parents who keep their rights, and the order with the child’s new name and any effective date.
14 · Clerk’s certificate of mailing
For an Indian child, the clerk mails filed copies to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Before you file
Common filing problems to check
These checks come from the official form and instructions. They are not a ranking of rejection reasons; the court decides whether a filing meets its requirements.
The child’s name after adoption in item 2 does not match item 13.
Item 7 (name before adoption) is left blank in a nonrelative agency, independent, intercountry or stepparent adoption, which the form says to complete.
A Contact After Adoption Agreement or Hague attachment referred to in items 9–11 is not attached.
The parties fill in the judge’s or clerk’s sections.
E-file it
How to e-file ADOPT-215 with Legal Hub Group
Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts. Availability depends on the live court, case type, document type and whether the case is new or existing.
1
Confirm the court
Check the current court and case-type list. A court must support the particular filing; this guide does not make every form available in every county.
2
Upload and check
Upload the finished papers and their attachments. Lexary checks them for common filing problems. Review the documents and the results before continuing.
3
Review the filing and fees
Confirm the case, document types and payment choice. Review every fee shown before submitting.
4
Submit and track the answer
The court reviews the filing. Keep the court’s acceptance and returned copy, or read its rejection notice before deciding what to do next.
$14.99 Legal Hub Group fee per e-filing, plus applicable court and court-system fees. Each fee is shown before submitting.
E-service is included free where available. No subscription. E-filing and service of opening papers are separate requirements.
The judge or judicial officer signs the order in item 13. The adopting parents complete the information in items 1–4.
Is a hearing always required?
Item 4d allows the hearing to be waived under Family Code section 9000.5 only for an adoption confirming the parentage of a parent who was married to, or in a registered domestic partnership with, the legal parent when the child was born.
Not legal advice. This page explains public filing information. It does not tell you what to put in your own case. Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts, not a law firm.
Information checked as of October 2026. Rules, form revisions and provider prices can change. The court decides whether to accept a filing.