Florida adoptions of a baby are either open, semi-open or closed.
Deciding to adopt a baby is an exciting and rewarding decision. In Florida, there are certain rules that you must adhere to when adopting any child, including a baby. While private adoption agencies often have additional requirements for adoptive family candidates, all parents wishing to adopt in Florida must follow the state's laws when completing an open, closed, private or state adoption.
Adoption Eligibility
Most adults living and working in Florida are eligible to adopt a baby in the state. According to the Florida Bar website, both single and married adults with satisfactory moral character, are able to nurture the child and have the means to support the baby are able to apply for adoption. Physical disabilities do not prohibit a person from adoption unless the disability results in an inability to care for the adoptive child. As of September 2010, homosexual individuals are not eligible to adopt babies in Florida.
Adoption Approval
Florida law requires that families who decide to adopt an infant in Florida must complete several pre-adoption steps before approved for adoption, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. Parents must attend an orientation session for potential adoptive families and take a 10-week training course--the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) course that teaches families about adoption issues and provides a chance for parents to assess their family and parenting. In addition, a home study is mandatory. Home studies in Florida typically include health information, background checks, references from friends and co-workers and several in-home visits from an adoption counselor to address the parents' reasons for adoption and family history.
Birth Parents Rights
Before adoptive parents are able to take their baby home, Florida law requires that the birth parents terminate their rights. The birth mother must sign a written consent for adoption after 48 hours of the child's birth, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. The birth father must also consent to the adoption if he is married to the mother or has a written, witnessed statement in which he acknowledges paternity. In specific adoption cases the judge may waive the need for a written consent, notes the Florida Bar website.
Finalization
After the baby joins the adoptive parents, Florida law requires that the adoptive parents file a petition to adopt with the local clerk of court, according to the Florida Bar website. While the petition requires filing within 60 days of the birth parents' termination of rights, the adoption is not finalized until the baby lives with the adoptive family for at least 90 days. The baby's adoption finalizes when the judge signs the legal papers at the final hearing. The adoptive parents must be present at the finalization and receive permanent parental rights and responsibility for the adopted infant.
Tags: adoptive parents, Florida requires, Florida requires that, Florida website, requires that, according Florida