Placing Baby For Adoption: How It Works

Pregnant? Wondering how placing your baby for adoption works? You’ve come to the right place. The Law Offices of Berkowitz & White has helped hundreds of women through the adoption process. If you decide to make an adoption plan, our law firm can guide you through the entire process, and ultimately, help you find the right adoptive parents in Florida for your baby. 

Placing Baby for Adoption – How it Works: 

Step One

The first step towards placing your baby for adoption is be to give us a call. We’ll talk you through how to start the process and set up a time to meet, at your convenience. In the beginning, we’ll need to collect some information from you. This may include social and medical history. You’re also entitled to receive counseling from a counselor, social worker, physician, clergy, or attorney. We have a strong belief in emotional support being made immediately available to an expectant parent. We may also assist you in coordinating prenatal care with health care providers too. 

Step Two

 Placing your baby for adoption can be scary. How will you know that the child is going to a good family? Our law firm will help you find adoptive parents in Florida that not only meet your desires for your baby’s future, but that are also pre-screened and have gone through an extensive adoption home-study. Once we understand your preferences, we’ll compile a list of good adoption matches for you and your baby. Preference may include the type of adoption (open, semi-open, closed); amount of financial assistance a birth mother requires; religion; or even race. Choosing an adoptive family is a big step and The Law Offices of Berkowitz & White will assist you by providing any additional information you need to make your decision. 

Step Three

Once you choose the adoptive family, you may elect to meet them, if you’d like. Every adoption situation is different, but some expectant mothers have find it beneficial to include the adoptive parents in their pregnancy. This allows them the chance to get to know them better, and truly see that they are the right adoptive parents for their baby. On the other hand, some women prefer their privacy and that’s completely fine too. There is no right or wrong way to carry out an adoption plan. We simply want you to feel as comfortable as possible with how the process is playing out. 

Step Four

After matching with an adoptive family, you are able to receive birth mother support. Expectant mothers who make an adoption plan in Florida may be eligible to receive help with reasonable living expenses in accordance with Florida Law. Reasonable living expenses are rent, utilities, basic telephone services, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, insurance, and expenses found by the court to be necessary for the health and well-being of the birth mother and the unborn child. These expenses are available throughout your pregnancy and for a period of up to 6 weeks postpartum.

Step Five

At some point, prior to the child’s birth, both you and the adoptive family will enter into an adoption plan. This is something that you and your adoption counselor have been formulating over the course of the adoption process. It sort of acts like a road map for the future. The adoption plan will address events surrounding the birth of the child and whether you’d like to adoption to be open, semi-open or closed. We will help you facilitate this relationship whether through Adopt Swap or through another mechanism. Post birth Adoption Communication Agreements are very important to all parties and are made with the intent of serving the child’s best interest to know that his/her adoption was a positive and loving experience for all parties.

Step Six

Once you’ve given birth, you must sign the “adoption papers,” (or what is legally known as, consent to adoption) before the baby can go home with the adoptive family. You may only sign the consent to adoption 48 hours after the birth of the child, unless you were able to discharge from the hospital early. In this case, you’ll need to provide written proof from a licensed hospital or birth center. After you sign the consent to adoption, the consent is legally binding. The only way that consent can be withdrawn is by petitioning the court. However, it’s important to know that you are not legally bound to sign the consent to adoption papers. If you’ve had a change of heart, and would like to parent, that is your decision to make. 

Pregnant? Considering Adoption? Need Help?

Placing your baby for adoption is a selfless and loving decision, but it can also be emotionally difficult. If you need support or would like to speak with a Florida adoption attorney, we are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Our team truly understands what you’re going through and are here to help you place your baby with love. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us a message.

Call: (877) 777-5070. 

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

Message:  Facebook + Instagram