Starting an adoption in Florida involves navigating complex legal requirements and multiple pathways. Many families ask “how do I start the adoption process?” when considering this life-changing decision.
We at Juliana Gaita, P.A. guide families through Florida’s adoption laws, required documentation, and procedural steps. Understanding your options helps you make informed decisions about your family’s future.
Which Adoption Type Fits Your Situation
Florida provides three distinct adoption pathways, each with specific legal requirements and timelines. Domestic infant adoption through licensed agencies typically takes 12-18 months and costs $20,000-$40,000, while private adoptions range from $15,000-$35,000. Birth mothers must wait 48 hours after delivery before they sign consent, and they have three business days to revoke that consent if the child is over six months old.
Prospective parents complete a home study process that includes background checks, financial assessments, and home visits from social workers.
Stepchild Adoption Offers the Fastest Route
Stepchild adoption represents Florida’s most straightforward adoption type. Courts require only the consent of the custodial parent and termination of the non-custodial parent’s rights. The process typically costs $1,500-$3,000 in legal fees and takes 3-6 months to complete. Florida courts waive the home study requirement for stepparent adoptions (making this the fastest route to legal parenthood). The non-custodial parent can voluntarily surrender their rights, or the court can terminate them for abandonment, which Florida defines as lack of contact or support for one year.
Adult Adoption Establishes Inheritance Rights
Adult adoption in Florida requires only the consent of both parties and costs approximately $500-$1,000 in court fees and legal expenses. This process takes 30-60 days and creates full inheritance rights between the adopted adult and adoptive parent. Many families use adult adoption to formalize stepparent relationships or provide legal security for care arrangements (particularly for elderly parents or disabled adults). The adopted adult receives a new birth certificate that reflects their adoptive parent’s name, and all legal ties to biological parents are severed unless the court specifically preserves them.
Each adoption type involves different legal complexities and documentation requirements that prospective families must understand before they proceed.
What Documents Must You File for Florida Adoption
Florida adoption demands specific legal documentation that varies by adoption type, with the Florida Department of Children and Families overseeing most requirements. The adoption petition serves as your primary document, filed in the circuit court where you reside or where the child lives. This petition must include detailed information about the adoptive parents, the child, and the birth parents’ consent or termination of rights. Florida courts also require a final judgment of adoption, which legally establishes the parent-child relationship and severs all ties to biological parents.
Background Checks Take 60-90 Days to Complete
Florida mandates comprehensive background screenings through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI databases for all prospective adoptive parents. These checks cost approximately $75-$100 per person and examine criminal history, child abuse records, and sex offender registries. The process typically takes 60-90 days to complete, though delays can extend this timeframe during peak periods. Adoptive parents must also provide fingerprints at authorized locations, and any criminal history requires detailed explanations and court documentation.
Home Studies Cost $2,000-$4,000 Statewide
Licensed social workers conduct mandatory home studies for most Florida adoptions (except stepparent cases). These evaluations cost between $2,000-$4,000 and include multiple home visits, individual interviews, and comprehensive family assessments. Social workers examine financial stability, marriage relationships, parenting experience, and home safety conditions during this 4-6 week process. The final home study report becomes part of your court filing and must demonstrate your family’s readiness to provide a stable environment for the adopted child.
Incomplete documentation creates 70% of adoption delays in Florida cases.
Additional Forms Vary by Adoption Type
Different adoption pathways require specific supplementary documents beyond the basic petition. Domestic infant adoptions need birth parent consent forms, medical histories, and placement agreements with agencies. Stepchild adoptions require termination of parental rights documents and proof of marriage to the custodial parent. Adult adoptions need only consent forms from both parties and proof of identity (making them the simplest documentation process).
Once you gather all required documents, the next step involves selecting the right adoption pathway that aligns with your family’s specific circumstances and timeline expectations.
Which Adoption Route Matches Your Budget and Timeline
Your family’s financial capacity and urgency level determine which adoption pathway makes sense for your situation. Agency adoptions through licensed Florida organizations cost $20,000-$40,000 and take 12-18 months, while independent adoptions range from $15,000-$35,000 with 8-15 month timelines.
Agency adoptions provide birth mother screening, medical histories, and legal protection, but independent adoptions offer more control over the matching process and potentially faster placements.
Agency Adoption Provides Maximum Legal Protection
Licensed adoption agencies in Florida handle approximately 60% of domestic infant adoptions and provide comprehensive services that justify their higher costs. These agencies conduct thorough birth mother screening, manage all legal documentation, and offer post-placement support for adoptive families. Agency fees typically include birth mother living expenses, medical costs, legal representation, and counseling services. The Florida Department of Children and Families licenses all legitimate agencies, and working with unlicensed entities violates state law. Agency adoptions also provide adoption disruption insurance (which protects your investment if the birth mother changes her mind during the legal waiting period).
Independent Adoption Cuts Costs by 30%
Independent adoptions through attorneys cost $5,000-$10,000 less than agency placements because you pay only legal fees, court costs, and allowable birth mother expenses. Florida law permits adoptive parents to pay reasonable living expenses, prenatal care, and counseling costs for birth mothers, but these payments must receive court approval. Independent adoptions require more active involvement from adoptive parents in finding birth mothers through advertising, networking, or referrals from healthcare providers. This pathway demands greater legal oversight since no agency manages the process (making attorney selection critical for compliance with Florida adoption statutes).
Foster Care Adoption Offers the Most Affordable Option
Foster care adoptions through the Department of Children and Families cost under $2,000 and take 6-12 months, but children often have special needs or trauma histories that require additional support. The state covers most expenses and provides monthly subsidies for children with special needs after finalization. Approximately 19,000 children currently live in Florida’s foster care system, with 500 children waiting for permanent placement without identified families.
Timeline Expectations Vary Dramatically
Private infant adoptions average 12-18 months for agency placements and 8-15 months for independent arrangements, though some families wait 24 months or longer. Stepparent adoptions complete within 3-6 months at costs under $3,000, while adult adoptions finalize in 30-60 days for less than $1,000 in fees.
Final Thoughts
Your adoption journey starts with a clear understanding of Florida’s legal framework and which adoption type fits your family situation. Domestic infant adoptions cost $15,000-$40,000 and take 12-18 months, while stepparent adoptions complete within 3-6 months for under $3,000. Foster care adoptions offer the most affordable option at under $2,000 but involve children with special needs.
Families who ask “how do I start the adoption process” must first gather required documentation that includes background checks, home studies, and court petitions. These documents take 60-90 days to process and cost $2,000-$4,000 for most adoption types. Legal counsel protects your interests and prevents costly delays that affect 70% of Florida adoption cases (making attorney selection a critical early decision).
We at Juliana Gaita, P.A. guide families through Florida’s adoption laws and procedural requirements. Our Boca Raton family law attorneys help clients navigate complex legal processes for infant adoption, stepparent adoption, and adult adoption cases. Contact our legal team to discuss your rights and options for completing your family through adoption in Florida.
