What you need to know about...
Adopting in Florida
Adoption in Florida
Florida - warm, beachy and pretty generous with their adoption laws. In this southern state, a single adult or married couple jointly, may adopt. Reasonable living expenses (including rent, utilities, phone, food, transportation, clothes, insurance), medical and attorney fees, and adoption-related expenses deemed necessary,and up to 6 weeks postpartum can be covered by the Adoptive Parents. Fun fact: wherever you are in Florida, you're never further than 60 miles from a body of salt water.
Home Study Providers in Florida
1 Home Study Providers in FL
$1,800 Average Home Study Cost
36 days Average Home Study Duration
PairTree Home Study
The Modern Way to Home Study
Adoption Attorneys in Florida
22 Adoption Agencies in FL
22 
AAAA Attorneys in FL
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Who’s Waiting to Adopt in Florida
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(206) 279-7578
Personality Type
Most Common Personality Types Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
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Average Age
47 years old
Profession
Most Common Professions Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
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Traveling For Your Adoption in Florida
Length of ICPC
in Florida
1-30 days
Florida participates in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) – a statutory agreement between all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The agreement governs the placement of children from one state into another state. It sets forth the requirements that must be met before a child can be placed out of state. The Compact ensures prospective placements are safe and suitable before approval, and it ensures that the individual or entity placing the child remains legally and financially responsible for the child following placement.
Adoption Law FAQ in Florida
Advertising Law Info
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Can adoptive parents advertise for birth parents?
No.
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State Advertising Code of Law
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 63.212(1)(g); 63.032
It is unlawful for any person, except an adoption entity, to place an advertisement or offer to the public, in any way, by any medium whatsoever, that a minor is available for adoption or that a minor is sought for adoption. In addition, it is unlawful for any person purchasing advertising space or purchasing broadcast time to advertise adoption services to fail to include in such advertisement the Florida license number of the adoption entity or the Florida Bar number of the attorney placing the advertisement.
The term âadoption entityâ includes the Department of Children and Families, a registered child-caring agency, an intermediary, a Florida licensed child-placing agency, or a child-placing agency licensed in another State that also is licensed by the department to place children in the State of Florida.
Adoption Law Info
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Who Can Adopt?
A single adult or married couple jointly. A married individual without his or her spouse if the spouse is the parent of the adoptee or the court excuses the spouse for the best interest of the child.
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Can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption?
Yes.
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Can adopting parents use an adoption facilitator or another paid intermediary?
Only an attorney or licensed adoption agency acting as adoption entities can charge or accept a fee for involvement with placing a child for adoption.
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What birth parent expenses may be paid, and in what time period?
Reasonable living expenses (including rent, utilities, phone, food, transportation, clothes, insurance), medical and attorney fees, and adoption-related expenses deemed necessary, up to 6 weeks postpartum.
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When does consent become irrevocable? If consent is revoked, is return to birth parent automatic?
Newborn: Upon signing, unless fraud or duress proven; 6 mos. or older: 3 days after signing or when child is placed in adoptive home, whichever is later, unless fraud or duress proven. Affidavit of non-paternity can be revoked only if fraud or duress shown.
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Qualifications for Adoptive Parents for adoption
Citation: Admin. Code § 65C-16.005
A social study that involves careful observation, screening, and evaluation shall be made of the child and adoptive applicants to select families who will be able to meet the physical, emotional, social, educational, and financial needs of a child, while safeguarding the child from further loss and separation from primary caregivers. In determining which applications for adoption should be approved, the following criteria must be considered:
• The childâs choice if the child is developmentally able to participate in the decision
• The ability and willingness of the adoptive family to adopt some or all of a sibling group
• The commitment of the applicant to value, respect, appreciate, and educate the child regarding his or her racial and ethnic heritage
• The familyâs childrearing experience
Applications to adopt will be accepted from married couples and from single adults. Couples married less than 2 years must be given particularly careful evaluation.
Other qualifications include:
• The family must have income and resources to ensure financial stability and security to meet expenses incurred in adequate care of the family.
• The familyâs housing and neighborhoods must provide adequate space and the living conditions necessary to promote the health and safety of the family.
• The physical, mental, and emotional health of the prospective adoptive household members must not jeopardize the safety and permanency of the childâs placement and will be considered in determining the best interest of the child.
• When families have children by birth or adoption, the anticipated impact of a new child on the family must be considered.
• Working parents must be willing and able to arrange to be with the child during the transition period.
Home Study Info
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Elements of a Home Study for Adoption
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 63.092; Admin. Code § 65C-16.005
The preliminary home study must be made to determine the suitability of the intended adoptive parents and may be completed prior to identification of a prospective adoptive child. The study must include, at a minimum:
• An interview with the intended adoptive parents
• Criminal records and central abuse registry checks
• An assessment of the physical environment of the home
• A determination of the financial security of the intended adoptive parents
• Documentation of counseling and education of the intended adoptive parents on adoptive parenting
In regulation: A minimum of five written references will be required. At least two of the references will be from nonrelatives. References must be obtained from persons who either have had the opportunity to observe the applicant(s) in situations that may give some indication of their capacity for parenthood, or who, as the result of their relationship to the applicant, possess or should possess documentation or knowledge of the applicantâs capacity for parenthood.
References should be obtained from employers of applicants and from schools or day care providers who have had an opportunity to know the family.
The approved adoptive parent training must be provided to and successfully completed by all prospective adoptive parents except licensed foster parents and relative caregivers who have previously attended the approved training or have been determined to understand the challenges and parenting skills needed to parent the children available for adoption from foster care successfully. -
Grounds for Withholding Approval for Adoption
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 63.092; Admin. Code § 65C-16.005
No minor may be placed in a home in which there resides any person determined by the court to be a sexual predator or to have been convicted of child abuse, murder, or sexual battery.
In regulation: An application may be denied when any of the following issues are present:
• The adoptive applicant is experiencing a serious or chronic medical condition that compromises or could compromise the applicantâs ability to provide the physical, emotional, social, and economic support necessary for the child to thrive.
• The child abuse records check reveals verified findings of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
• The criminal history checks reveal that the applicant(s) have been convicted of crimes specified in statute as a disqualifying condition.
• The applicant is a current or former foster parent, and the review of the foster parent file reveals that there have been care and supervision concerns or a violation of licensing standards. -
When Home Studies Must Be Completed for Adoption
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 63.092
Before placing the minor in the intended adoptive home, a preliminary home study must be completed. A favorable preliminary home study is valid for 1 year after the date of its completion. -
Postplacement Study Requirements for Adoption
Citation: Admin. Code § 65C-16.010
The department has a legal responsibility to provide services until the finalization of an adoption. This period shall be no less than 90 days from the date the child was placed in the physical custody of the adoptive parent. The first home visit must be made within 1 week after placement. There shall be a minimum of three supervisory visits in placements that are non-problematic. For placements that do not proceed smoothly, additional and more frequent contacts are necessary.
The adoptive child must be contacted a minimum of once every calendar month until adoption finalization. The entire family must be seen together at least once during the postplacement supervision period.