How it Works: Adoption in Florida

The first step towards placing a baby for adoption in Florida is finding the right adoption law firm or agency. While you certainly can choose to work with the first result you find when searching “adoption attorney near me” on Google, we recommend you do a little bit of research. If you’d like to learn more, follow the links to learn more about the many differences between working with a Florida adoption agency and a Florida adoption attorney. 

If you decide you’d like to work with the Law Offices of Berkowitz & White PLLC, the adoption process would go as follows. 

Step One – Support

When a woman comes to the Law Offices of Berkowitz & White PLLC for Florida adoption help, we always seek to educate her on all of her pregnancy options before deciding which avenue she would like to pursue first. Women who choose adoption in Florida are immediately entitled to support counseling from a counselor, social worker, physician, clergy, or attorney. We have a strong belief in emotional support being provided as soon as possible. 

Step Two: Intake + Birth Mother Services 

If a woman decides to pursue an adoption in Florida with us, we’ll start by asking her for some background information, like social and medical history. After this, we’ll assist her in coordinating and receiving prenatal care, if she hasn’t done so already. We’ll also help her determine what type of birth mother services she’ll need throughout her pregnancy and for a period of up to six weeks postpartum. In accordance with Florida law, women who choose to make an adoption plan are entitled to reasonable living expenses which may include rent, utilities, basic telephone services, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, insurance, and other  expenses.

Step Three: Choosing the Right Adoptive Family

Now it’s time to choose the right adoptive family. Our team will provide the expectant birth mother with an array of waiting adoptive families’ profiles, all of which meet the matching criteria of both parties.

Choosing the adoptive family is a big step, so our team is always available to provide additional information and insights when needed. Once an adoption match is made, the expectant birth mother may elect to meet the adoptive family if she wishes. 

Step Four: The Adoption Plan

Prior to the child’s birth, both the adoptive family and the birth mother will enter into an adoption plan which acts as a roadmap going forward. The adoption plan will address things like the events surrounding the birth of the child and the type of post-adoption relationship they’d like to have, typically referred to as open, semi-open, or closed adoption. If the expectant birth mother and adoptive family choose to maintain some level of contact, our team will help facilitate this relationship, whether through AdoptSwap or other means. 

Step Five: Placement 

Once the baby is born, the mother must wait 48 hours to execute a consent for adoption. The mother may also execute a consent for adoption on the day that she is notified in writing that she is fit to be discharged from the hospital or birthing center. Any possible biological father may execute documents in favor of the adoption pre-birth or post-birth, depending on the circumstances.

The legal aspect of adoption is a two-step process. Birth parents’ rights are terminated in the first legal proceeding, and the second legal proceeding is the finalization of the adoption. Birth parents have the right to waive appearance in court. This would mean that they do not need to appear in court. However, should the adoption be contested, then a court appearance may be required. 

While adoption in Florida may seem like a very complex process, it’s something that we’ve done hundreds of times before. If you need help understanding how adoption works or what the adoption process would look like for you specifically, the Law Offices of Berkowitz & White PLLC would be happy to talk with you. Feel free to give us a call or send us a text message. There are no strings attached when you call, and everything we talk about can be completely confidential.  

Call: (877) 777-5070. 

Text: (561) 841-3065 or (850) 610-4166

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