Private Adoption

A private adoption is an adoption that does not include a government or child placing agency and allows the birth mother to select an adopting family with the assistance of an attorney. Florida law has very specific adoption rules and regulations in regards to adoption that must be followed to have a legal adoption.

When deciding whether a private adoption is appropriate for your family, it is important to consider the following:

• Whether contact or communication will be considered (open adoption);
• What costs, if any, will be paid to the biological mother for care, expenses, etc.;
• Whether race, age, sex or any other factors are important for your family; and
• Whether a child with medical or special needs will be considered for adoption.

These factors are just the start of many questions and concerns, you may have. Finding the perfect child for your family will take time and patience. The attorneys at Gentry & Thurman have experienced social workers to assist with counseling for the birth mother as well as aiding the adopting family with preparation of a homestudy and post placement reports.

Fees for adoption vary depending on the needs of the biological mother and the adoption process (interstate adoptions are more costly due to the I.C.P.C. requirements). Additionally, the costs of homestudy preparation and post placement reports must be paid to the individual social worker and should also be included as additional costs.

SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS

Because our office works with other adoption intermediaries and child placing agencies, we have numerous opportunities for couples seeking a special needs child. Special needs babies may be babies who, because of the mother's medical history, could possibly have certain challenges in their development. Although not all of these babies WILL face challenges, our obligation to give full disclosure of the known health of the birth mother and baby sometimes makes it difficult for placement. Because of the unique circumstances surrounding these adoptions we often waive a portion of the adoption fees for these children.