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Deciding to place a baby for adoption (or “give up a baby for adoption”) is one of the most difficult choices you’ll ever make. It’s a decision rooted in love, courage, and hope for your child’s future. If you are a woman in Florida thinking about adoption, knowing the state’s laws can help you feel more confident.
This blog is for expectant moms who are thinking about adoption. It provides a clear and caring view of your rights, options, and what to expect under Florida law.
Your Rights as a Birth Mother in Florida
In Florida, the law recognizes your role as the Expectant Mother or Birth Mother and ensures you have time, support, and autonomy in making this decision.
Choosing the Adoptive Family
You have the right to choose the Adoptive Family. Whether through an Agency or an Attorney, you can review profiles, meet potential parents, and select a family that aligns with your hopes for your baby’s future.
Want a family that shares your values, faith, or culture? You can prioritize that. Florida’s adoption process puts you in the driver’s seat, letting you shape your child’s story even after placement.
Consenting to the Adoption
In Florida, the earliest you can legally sign adoption papers is 48 hours after your baby is born or on the day you are discharged from the hospital.[1]
This waiting period allows you to recover physically and emotionally, ensuring you don’t rush your choice. You can also use this time to decide if you’d like to change your mind about the adoption. You also do not have to sign right at 48 hours or the day your baby is discharged. You have the right to wait until you know this is the right decision for you and your baby.
Once you sign the consent forms, it is irrevocable. unless you can prove that you were under duress or coerced when you signed.[2] This is an important safeguard for your peace of mind.
Do You Get Financial Support for Adoption?
Pregnancy can bring financial strain. Thankfully, Florida law allows adoption agencies to help with certain expenses, easing your burden.
You may receive support for things like[3]…
- Reasonable living costs, if you’re facing unemployment or medical issues. Reasonable living costs include rent, utilities, basic telephone service, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, and insurance.
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Medical expenses can be paid during the pregnancy and for up to 6 to 8 weeks postpartum.
These funds aren’t a “payment” for your baby—they’re regulated by the court to ensure you are properly cared for throughout the adoption process. Any Agency or Attorney you work with should explain exactly what’s allowed, so you feel secure and supported, not pressured.
Be cautious, though: Adoptive Parents or Adoption Agencies can’t pay for things like luxury items or undocumented cash. If something feels off, ask questions or consult a lawyer. Your comfort and clarity matter.
The Father’s Rights in Adoption: What You Need to Know
If the baby’s father is in the picture, his rights depend on his legal status. If you’re married, your husband is presumed to be the legal father, and his consent is required or he will have to be notified of the adoption either by personal service or publication, if his location is unknown.[4]
For unmarried fathers, it’s trickier. An unmarried Father is a Putative Father. A Putative Father must register with the Florida Putative Father Registry to protect any potential legal parental rights he might have to the child. If he is not registered with the Putative Father Registry he may not receive notice of the adoption.[5]
In order for a Putative Father to contest an adoption, he must[6]:
- Register with the Putative Father Registry
- Start paying child support to the Mother even before the child is born
- File with the Court a visitation/custody plan.
You don’t need to handle this alone—your Adoption Agency or Attorney can guide you through notifying him or proving he’s not involved, keeping the process smooth and legal.
How Does the Adoption Process Work?
Here’s how placing a baby for adoption in Florida typically goes:
1. Connect with an Adoption Agency
Start by reaching out to a licensed Florida Adoption Agency, like Abiding Love Adoptions. Reaching out to us is not an automatic agreement to make an adoption plan. We are here to explain your options, answer your questions, and help you decide whether or not adoption is right for you and your baby.
Make sure that your Adoption Agency and/or Adoption Attorney is licensed in your state.
2. Create an Adoption Plan
If you decide to place your baby for adoption, we’ll help you create a plan tailored to your needs—choosing the family, deciding on the amount of contact, and outlining any support you require. This is your roadmap, and you control it.
3. Consent to the Adoption
No legal documents consenting to the Adoption are signed before 48 hours after birth or before you have been discharged from the hospital (whichever occurs first). A notary and two witnesses ensure it’s official, and your counselor or lawyer will confirm you understand everything.
You have the right to your own Attorney. A reputable Adoption Agency and/or Attorney will ensure that you have your own Attorney to review the documents with you before you sign and, if you wish, be present for you when you do sign.
4. Follow Up with Post-placement Support
Your baby goes to the Adoptive Family, and any agreed-upon contact begins. You’ll also receive post-placement support as you adjust.
Open Adoption: Staying Connected After Placement
You might wonder what life will look like after the adoption has been finalized. These days, most infant adoptions are open, meaning you can continue to have contact with the Adoptive Family and your child after finalization. This could be photos, phone calls, or even regular visits, depending on what you’re comfortable with.
While open adoption agreements aren’t legally binding in Florida, a Post-Adoption Contact Agreement can be entered into in writing between you and the Adoptive Family you choose, detailing the number of visits, pictures, and updates you are to receive post placement.
This Agreement can be filed with the Petition for Adoption and made as an exhibit to the Final Order of Adoption.[7] You’ll work with the adoptive parents and adoption professionals to set post-adoption expectations. It’s your call, and good agencies will honor your wishes while putting your child’s well-being first.
Why This Matters to You
Placing your baby for adoption isn’t “giving up”—it’s giving your child a future you’ve thoughtfully chosen. Florida’s laws protect your rights, ensuring you’re not rushed, coerced, or left in the dark. Knowing the law empowers you to make the best decision for yourself and your child.
You’re not alone in this—Abiding Love Adoptions is to walk beside you, offering resources and compassion, each step of the way.
Want to Place a Baby for Adoption in Florida? We’re Here to Help.
As an Expectant Mother considering placing a baby for adoption in Florida, you hold the power to shape this journey. The law gives you time to decide, options for support, and a voice in your baby’s future.
If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to Abiding Love Adoptions. We will listen, not push. Contact us to get started.
Disclaimer: Please note that Abiding Love Adoptions does not encourage the use of terms like “give up for adoption”. However, we understand that these are the terms used by Expectant Mothers to find Adoption Agencies, so we have incorporated them in this article.
Sources
- Consent to Adoption – Florida. Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021, October). https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/consent-adoption-florida/
- See source #1.
- 2012 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate. (2012). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/0063.097
- The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C). Florida Legislature. (2024). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0063/0063.html
- See source #4.
- See source #4.
- See source #4.