An Overview of the Adoption Procedure in Florida

Adoption can be among the most meaningful things a person can do in their lives. Ordinarily, when most people think of family, they naturally think about a biological or marital relationship. Adoption proves that family is a matter of choice and commitment, it proves that someone can be made a part of our family if we make the conscious decision to include them.

The State of Florida has a procedure which must be followed when it comes to becoming an adoptive parent. This procedure is created to ensure that children are adopted into safe and stable homes. In this post, we will discuss the numerous steps involved with the adoption procedure here in Florida.

Preliminary Steps

The adoption procedure involves multiple steps. These steps are designed to prepare people for adoptive parenthood and also prescreen people for their fitness for parenthood. The first step is an orientation period which consists of a two hour presentation. This session also provides prospective adoptive parents with an opportunity to talk with real adoptive parents so they can learn more about the reality of adoptive parenthood.

The next step is an in-depth training course regimen which provides an assessment of a person’s skills and also gives information about various adoption issues. The training courses are mandatory and will give a person a decent sense of their readiness to become an adoptive parent.

Home Study

The next step is something referred to as a “home study.” The home study is the most substantial requirement which needs to be fulfilled to become an adoptive parent. The purpose of the home study is to assess whether a given person can provide a safe and stable home for an adoptive child. The prospective adoptive parent will undergo multiple background checks, and must submit references from both personal and professional connections. An inquiry will be made into various facets of your life by an adoption representative. This worker will ask questions about the adoptive parent’s finances, motivations for adoption, parenting strategy, and so forth.

Approval & Matching

After the information from the home study is gathered, it will be submitted to an adoption specialist for a determination. If you’re approved, then you may proceed further with the procedure and begin the search for an adoptive child. Prospective adoptive parents who have been approved can conduct searches at group meetings, picnics or other recruitment activities. After an adoptive parent selects a child, the child can officially be placed with the adoptive parent following approval by an adoption worker.

In Florida, both individuals and married couples can become adoptive parents. There is no law which forbids unmarried individuals from adopting. What’s more, same-sex couples can become adoptive parents. Florida previously had a ban against same-sex adoption, but this law was ruled unconstitutional, and then officially repealed in 2015.

Contact The Family Matters Law Firm For More Information

The Family Matters Law Firm has over 25 years of experience serving families in Miami. We strive to assist our clients with all aspects of the divorce and separation processes, including conflict resolution, therapist referrals, and finance management referrals. We will help you divorce yourself from the fight and find peace of mind as you make a fresh start.

Call us today at The Family Matters Law Firm at (305) 701-2901 or contact us online to schedule a strategy session for legal advice with a legal separation attorney in Miami, FL.