Considering Putting a Baby Up for Adoption in Florida?

When you are making a decision about putting a baby up for adoption in Florida, there are some important things to consider. The most important of which is that adoption in every state is different. What you know about how adoption works in one state does not mean it works that way in the state that you are now. This is a big decision. Things need to be thought through carefully.

It is most important to know what rights you have as an expectant mom putting a baby up for adoption in Florida. With that in mind, here are the top things you need to know about Birth Mother/Expectant Mother rights in Florida.

This is not an exhaustive or all-encompassing list. Any mother considering adoption for her child should consult with an adoption agency licensed in her state or an adoption attorney. The main thing is knowing what you should know before you call either of them.

Putting A Baby Up For Adoption In Florida And Open Adoption     

The research is overwhelmingly in favor of open adoption, not just for the sake of the child but for everyone else involved in the adoption. Open adoption varies from adoption to adoption.

You Need To Decide What You Want For An Open Adoption – Before you decide to place a baby for adoption, consider what you would be looking for in an open adoption. Do you want letters? Phone calls? Visits? How many visits per year are you looking for? Not every adoption agency or attorney will advocate for the kind of open adoption you are looking for. Decide what you want in an open adoption before you work with an agency or attorney, and ask them if they will support the kind of open adoption you want.

Your Post-Adoption Contact Agreement Is Not Legally Binding in Florida – One of the most critical things about putting a baby up for adoption in Florida is understanding that no matter how clear you are about the kind of open adoption you want, no matter how great the prospective adoptive family is when you are getting to know them, your post-adoption contact agreement in Florida is not legally binding. If they decide not to honor your agreement for any reason, you have no legal recourse to make them comply. It is important to note that no violation of any post-adoption contact agreement in any state, legally binding or not, will overturn an adoption. But in states with a legally binding post-adoption contact agreement, you can lawfully mediate to have it upheld. Right now, that is not the case in Florida.

Your Rights End As Soon As You Sign The Termination Of Parental Rights- You need to know that putting a baby up for adoption in Florida means that as soon as you sign the Termination of Parental Rights (or TPR), your rights as the child’s parent are over. There is no revocation period in Florida. Once the notary signs it, your parental rights are revoked. That is a sobering thing to experience. If you hesitate about signing with that in mind, the best thing to do is not sign anything. If you have legal questions, please consult an adoption attorney in your state.

No Agency Should Ever Encourage You To Move Out Of State – Any agency trying to get expectant moms in Florida to move to another state so they can work with them is doing something unethical. First, they should not advertise in states where they are not licensed. Second, you should be served in the state you live in. There is help for women who are putting a baby up for adoption right here in Florida. There is no need to move. Any agency that does not do ethical things upfront will unlikely do them later. You want to know you are working with people you can trust. With this decision, you don’t have to take any chances with out-of-state agencies not considering what is in your best interest. Ask to see the Florida state license of any adoption agency you are considering working with. There should be a Florida state seal on the certificate and it must not be expired.

You Always Have The Right To Your Own Attorney – Many expectant moms considering adoption fail to understand the importance of having their own attorney. With agencies, there is an attorney there when you sign your paperwork, but they are not representing you, they are representing the agency. When you are working with an attorney representing an adoptive family (which is usually the case), they are not representing you; they are representing them. In either case, attorneys must represent their clients to the best of their abilities. This leaves you without adequate representation. If your agency or the attorney for the adoptive parents asks you if you want your own attorney, say yes! If they don’t ask, insist. This is too important a decision not to have your own attorney.

You Are In The Driver’s Seat When Making An Adoption Plan

Every expectant mother who is thinking about making an adoption plan needs to know that she is the one calling the shots before she chooses to place a baby for adoption. She is the one who gets to choose the family, the kind of open adoption she wants, who she wants to legally represent her, and what she chooses to do with her life following her child’s placement. No one is in charge of her decision. She is. Any mom who feels pressure from an adoptive family, an attorney, or an agency should seriously reconsider who she is working with. You can ask questions, you can ask for more information. What you can’t ask for is your parental rights back. Take careful consideration before you decide what is best for you and your baby’s future. If adoption is the best way to go for you both, make sure you are talking through these points with a reputable, licensed agency if you are going to be putting up a baby for adoption in Florida.