Source: http://www.adoptionservices.org/domestic_adoption_agencies/adoption_agencies_florida.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-16 17:19:50
Document Index: 557600631

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63']

If you are an adopting family we believe you will find the information below helpful. We begin by giving you information regarding child adoption law in Florida (what you can and can't do) and then provide you with information on children available for adoption in Florida. We then relate how we can assist you during the adoption process and finally we provide a list of licensed Florida adoption agencies which you browse through for additional information.
Before starting to search for a child to adopt or an agency to assist you, it is important that you understand how the adoption laws in Florida may affect your decisions. Making informed decisions is the best way of increasing your chances of adopting a child. By way of example, we have listed below a few of the important parts of Florida child adoption law including such topics as advertising, adoption expenses, and the critical issue of ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender).
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 63.212(1)(g)
It is unlawful for any person, except an adoption entity, to advertise or offer to the public, in any way, by any medium whatever, that a minor is available for adoption or that a minor is sought for adoption.
It is unlawful for any person to publish or broadcast any such advertisement without including the Florida license number of the agency or attorney placing the advertisement.
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 63.032; 63.039; 63.085
An intermediary is an attorney, acting as an adoption entity, who places a child for adoption. An adoption entity has an affirmative duty to:
Report to court all expenses paid
Citation: § 63.097
Reasonable living expenses of the mother that the mother is unable to pay due to unemployment or disability that may include rent, utilities, basic phone service, food, transportation, clothes, and insurance
Medical or hospital care received by the mother or minor
Any other expenses found by the court to be necessary
Expenses may be paid during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum.
Any payment not itemized on the affidavit
Any fee for which service is not specified
Any payment for locating a minor for adoption
A licensed agency, professional, or any other person is due an amount equal to the cost of all services performed.
Citation: §§ 63.212(1)(c); 63.085
It is unlawful to sell or surrender a child to another person for money or anything of value.
The payment of expenses does not obligate the birth mother's consent.
Citation: § 63.132
The petitioner and adoption entity must file an itemized affidavit of a full accounting of all disbursements for expenses, including professional and legal fees, and any additional information the court requests.
The expenses that must be included are specified in statute.
If parental rights to the minor have previously been terminated, the adoption entity with which the minor has been placed for subsequent adoption may provide consent to the adoption. In such case, no other consent is required.
A child age 12 or older must consent, unless the court determines it is in the child's best interest to dispense with consent.
Rights of Presumed (Putative) Father
Citation: §§ 63.054; 39.803
The putative father must file a notarized claim of paternity form with the Putative Father Registry.
The form may be filed at any time prior to the child's birth, or the filing of a petition for termination of rights.
If the identity or location of a parent is unknown and a petition for termination of rights is filed, the court will conduct an inquiry.
If a prospective parent is identified, he may complete a sworn affidavit of parenthood, which must be filed no later than at the time of or prior to the adjudicatory hearing in the termination proceeding.
Are Children Available for Adoption in Florida
Yes, through both public and private adoption agencies. For example, in 2004, Florida had 7,705 children in the welfare system waiting to be adopted of whom 221 were under the age of 1 year, and 2,642 were between ages 1-5 years old. The actual number of children adopted through Florida public child welfare agencies was only 3,264, which represents only a small portion of the total number of all Florida adoptions (exact numbers are not available at this time).
Remember that while you may be a resident of Florida, you are not limited to adopting a child from Florida. You can adopt a child born in Florida, a child born in any other U.S. state, or even a foreign born child. What is important for you to understand is that infants and children are available for adoption in Florida, in each of the other the 49 states, and in many foreign countries.
Can We Assist You with a Child Adoption in Florida