Frequently Asked Questions

Are you pregnant and considering adoption?

Our small law firm of all women offers adoption services with empathy, care and a personal touch. We have helped women make loving adoption plans for over 22 years. A member of our staff is always available to speak with you, free of charge, to give information about placiWe are a small law firm of all women offering adoption services with care, concern and a personal touch. Our firm has helped women make loving adoption plans for over 22 years. Madonna is the only Board Certified Adoption Lawyer in Florida’s Panhandle and works closely with her professional social work staff, lead by Angela, our Licensed Clinical Social Worker. We’re here and available to speak with you, free of charge, and provide information concerning placing a child for adoption at anytime. You may call or text us 24/7 at (850) 308-1836.

We will give you information you need to assist in making the decisions that are right for you and your child and to ensure your child is raised in a loving, safe and secure home. We can discuss ensuring you are provided quality medical care and counseling and needed assistance with living expenses, transportation and clothing. If you don’t have a telephone, we can provide you with a phone to communicate with us. We’re available to assist in making the adoption plan that is right for you.ng your child for adoption. Please feel free to call or text us 24/7 at (850) 308.1836. We offer an array of services to birth mothers who choose adoption; some services we offer are insurance/Medicaid application assistance, locating/selecting a quality medical care provider, perinatal/post-partum counseling and assistance with living expenses, transportation, clothing and telephone. We know this process can sometimes be overwhelming. Our goal is to help you create the adoption plan that is right for you and your child.
What is Adoption?

Adoption, as commonly known, is the legal process by which parents allow another to assume all parental responsibilities and rights for their child. In doing this, they give up their rights as parents. Florida law states that adoption is the act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child where it did not previously exist, thereby declaring the child to be the legal child of the adoptive parents.

In Florida, adoptions may occur as a private placement through an attorney or as an agency placement. In private placement adoptions (non-DCF adoptions), birth parents seek out an adoption attorney to explore pregnancy options, and if they choose, move forward with an adoption plan. At our firm, birth parents typically select the family to adopt their child. While it is not required that you make the selection, in most cases, birth parents have input into this selection either by providing a list of criteria for a possible adoptive family, reviewing profiles and information about families or in some cases meeting the families on the telephone or in person, if they desire. If you do not want to select a family, it is not required.

While some agencies may place a child in foster care for some period of time, we use direct placement, without need for foster care. Your child can be placed directly from the hospital with the adoptive family. Our attorneys and Social Work staff are experienced and have worked in adoption for many years. We’re happy to speak with you about adoption as an option for you and your child and answer your questions. There is no fee or cost for birth parents to make a plan or ask questions and your call is confidential. Please feel free to reach out anytime. We’re here 24/7 (850)308-1836 to talk or text.
Will it cost me money to give up my baby for adoption?

No, placing a child for adoption does not cost you money. The adoptive family pays all expenses.
At what point in my pregnancy may I make plans for adoption?

In Florida, the actual consent for the adoption of your child may only be signed after the child’s birth; however, you may make plans for adoption at any point in your pregnancy, including selecting an adoptive family. We can even work with you while you’re at the hospital and after delivery, if you have not yet made a plan but have now decided adoption may be an option for you and your child. An adoption plan can even be made once you have taken the child home, or for older children. Please feel free to call us at any point to discuss the option of adoption. You can call or text 24/7at (850)308-1836.
May I select the family to adopt my child?

Yes, you may. In private adoption, you may discuss your individual desires for an adoptive family with us and we will present families who meet the qualities you are looking for. These desires may include such characteristics of adoptive parents as religious preference, race, age, the existence of children already in the family or other factors, which you believe are important in your selection of a family. We maintain profiles with photographs of the families, which you may review when making this decision. You may also have your individual questions regarding a particular family answered and, in most instances, you may speak with or meet with the families as you desire, so that you may feel assured this is the right family for you and your child.
Do I have to pick the family to adopt my child?

No, you do not. If you would rather not pick the family for your child, we can do that for you. If you like, we can use the criteria you give us for a family. We have many homestudy approved waiting families who would be honored to adopt your child.
How will I know an adoptive family will take good care of my child?

All adoptive families that we place with are homestudy approved and have extensive background checks and have participated in adoption education. You may choose them, meet them and get to know them, which will allow you to feel assured of a family’s love for your child. All prospective adoptive parents must also complete an extensive screening and investigation before they are approved to adopt. This process includes visits to their home, interviews, providing references and those references being checked, criminal background investigations, including F.B.I. checks, assurances of financial stability and ability to care for a child, the review of medical and financial information and counseling and education to prepare them for adoption and adoptive parenting. All adoptive parents must be approved by the court in which they adopt and by our firm. You may also have the opportunity to select the family, speak with them, ask them questions and meet in person, so that you feel assured of your decision.
What is open adoption?

The contact or relationship between adoptive parents and biological or birth parents is often referred to as “openness” in an adoption. The term “open adoption” does not have one specific meaning, but includes many forms of contact and relationships that birth and adoptive families choose to have with one another, as well as exchanging identifying information. We work with many different types of adoption, including open adoptions, closed adoptions and many variations in between. You may select the type of adoption that works best for you and your child and how much openness you want.

Open adoption may refer to:
Adoptive and birth parents who choose to meet on a first-name basis for one meeting before the birth of the child, but decide to have no further contact.

Adoptive and birth parents who choose to have some form of an ongoing relationship throughout the term of pregnancy and may maintain that contact throughout the labor and delivery process and immediately after birth, before the baby goes home from the hospital.

Adoptive and birth parents who choose to have some form of an ongoing contact whether through cards, letters, email, blogs, websites, telephone and/or photographs.

Adoptive and birth parents who choose to have ongoing contact.
What type of assistance may I receive during my pregnancy?
Dependent upon your individual needs, and in some instances, the approval of the court, in Florida, the family you select may assist you with:
- Medical care and medications,
- Counseling,
- Living expenses such as rent, utilities, telephone, toiletries and
  groceries,
- Transportation, and
- Clothing
In Florida, these benefits are available up to six weeks after the birth of your child.
May I see the baby after birth?

Yes, you may. You decide how much contact you would like with your baby and if you would like anyone else to visit with and/or see the baby prior to placement for adoption. You may permit the adoptive parents to visit with the baby as well. We will assist you in making an adoptive plan to meet your individual needs.
When would I sign the papers for adoption?

After the birth of your child, typically before release from the hospital, and typically after 48 hours have passed, legal papers are signed. In some circumstances, the paperwork may be signed earlier than 48 hours after birth, but only after you receive medical discharge from the hospital.
After I sign the papers, may I change my mind?

Generally, no. In Florida, once the consent for adoption of a newborn is signed, the consent is binding and irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. This is one reason to carefully consider your decision before birth. If you are placing a child older than six months of age, there is a three business day period of revocation, meaning you have three business days to change your mind.
Will my baby be placed in foster care?

No. In private placement adoption, there is no requirement for foster care. We will arrange for the placement of your child with the adoptive family directly upon discharge from the hospital. If you desire, in most cases, the adoptive family can be present at delivery and can have contact with your child after birth and you can be present for the placement with the family, if you choose. You may even be the person to hand your child to the adoptive family. Our goal is to honor your plan for your child.
May I receive photographs and information about my child after the adoption?

Yes. Many adoptive and birth families choose to share information about the child during some part of the child’s life. Typically, adoptive parents will send photographs with short letters updating birth parents on the progress of the child for some period of time during the child’s early years, if requested or provide the information via a website, email, blog, telephone or other similar means. Please let us know about your desires so we can assist you with identifying a family to meet those needs.
May my child find me when he or she grows up?

Yes. Florida provides an Adoption Reunion Registry which allows birth parents the option to provide information to be given to their children who are placed for adoption when the child becomes an adult or for release to the adoptive family before the child is an adult. Additionally, you may provide this information directly to the adoptive family so they may share it with the child. Information about Florida’s Adoption Reunion Registry may be obtained by calling (800) 96-ADOPT.
Will my child understand why I placed him or her for adoption?

While no one can answer this question for you with certainty, today it is much more common for adoptive families to discuss with children the fact that they are adopted. In some instances, birth parents elect to write a letter to their child explaining their particular decision and reasons for placing their child for adoption or prepare a small memory book or similar keepsake for their child. Many adoptive families choose to share this information with the child by keeping it in a special place or including it in a life book or baby book. Information like this can often help a child understand the situation as they grow up. If you have a relationship with ongoing contact with your adoptive family, maybe you will have the opportunity to explain it yourself.
Who may I talk with about this decision?

If you would like to speak with a professional about your situation and the adoption options available, you can call or text us anytime; our talk and text line is (850) 308-1836 and our toll-free line is (888) 883-6830. Our telephones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays. We are caring, experienced professionals who will listen and hear what you have to say. We would be happy to speak with you about adoption, share information about families looking to adopt a child, discuss types of assistance available to you and answer your questions. We can assure you receive a full range of needed professional services including counseling and medical care. Your call is confidential and without charge. Your call does not obligate you to place your child for adoption.
Should I place my child for adoption?

The decision to place a child for adoption is a difficult one only you can answer. We cannot answer this question for you; no one can. We can provide you with information you may need to help make this decision and we are willing to offer you caring support and make arrangements for you to receive counseling.
Must I provide personal information to the adoption attorney?

It is most important that birth parents provide full medical history concerning themselves and their family as is reasonably possible. This information will assist medical professionals in caring for your child as he or she grows up and will also assist us in finding the right family for your child. Other, non-medical information, may be helpful for adoptive families to have as your child grows up.
What if I don’t know who the father is?

In Florida, if you don’t know who the father is, you can still giveup your baby for adoption.
What if there is more than one possible father?

We can still help you giveup your baby for adoption if you aren’t sure which man is the biological father.
Does my family have to know about the adoption?

No. Generally the only people that must know about a decision to place a child for adoption are the biological mother’s legal husband, and if there is no such person, any father who has registered with Florida’s Putative Father Registry or who has initiated legal proceedings to be declared the father or to establish custody or visitation. Any identified birth father must be provided a Notice of Intended Adoption Plan, a legal notice of the adoption.
What if I am under the age of 18?

A birth parent under the age of 18 has the power to consent to the adoption without parental consent or knowledge. It is not required that your parents or family members be contacted. If you’re under 14, your consent must be witnessed by a parent, guardian or court appointed guardian ad litem.
Do I have to go to court?

In most cases, no. Only in very limited instances would your presence in court be requested.
What if my child is not a newborn or infant?

Not only newborns are placed for adoption. There are many loving, caring families looking to adopt toddlers and young children. We will be happy to share information with you about placing an older child for adoption in Florida.
Do I have to live in Florida to work with you?

No, you do not. We will work with other adoption professionals in your state to meet your needs. You may also relocate to Florida, if you so desire.
Where in Florida do you work?

We work with birth families all over the state of Florida, from Pensacola, Milton, Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Panama City and Tallahassee to Ocala, Belleview, Dunellon, Miami and even Key West.
Can I give up my baby for adoption if I’m in jail or prison?

Yes, you can. If you are in prison or jail, you can still make an adoption plan for your child. If need be, you can call us collect.
What if I have a child in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families? May they also be placed for adoption?

If your parental rights to your child have not been terminated, you may consent to the private placement of the child for adoption. You do not have to consent to the state taking your child. If your child has been taken away by DCF, you may want to explore the option of adoption. We will be happy to explore this option with you and provide you with private placement information. The earlier in the dependency process you explore placement, the more options you may have.

Download Birthmother Book

Stepparent & Relative Adoptions

One of the most common types of adoption in Florida are stepparent and relative adoptions. A stepparent would be the legal spouse of the child to be adopted. Under Florida law, for the purposes of a relative adoption, a relative is someone related to the child to be adopted within the third degree (that includes a sibling of the child to be adopted, the grandparent, the aunt or uncle of the child to be adopted, or the great grandparent). Stepparent and relative adoptions can typically happen much faster and without the need for a homestudy.

What is a Step Parent adoption?

A stepparent adoption occurs when a child’s parent is married to someone other than the child’s legal parent and the parent’s spouse wants to adopt.
Many times, stepparent adoptions are merely legalizing a parent-child relationship that already exists between the step parent and the child.
In a step parent adoption, generally only one parent’s rights are terminated and the step parent becomes the legal parent of the child.
In Florida, stepparent adoptions do not require a home study. In the finalization of the stepparent adoption, the stepparent is the legal parent of the child, having all rights and obligations of a parent.
In a stepparent adoption, the non-custodial parent will need to sign a consent for adoption or their rights will need to be terminated by other means.
If the child to be adopted is 12 years old or older, the child will have to consent to their adoption, or their consent will have to be waived by the court.
A step parent may want to adopt a child in order to add the child to their medical insurance, have the right to consent to their medical treatment, enroll a child in school, ensure the child is eligible for inheritance and claim the child on their taxes as a dependent.
The Florida Adoption lawyers at The Adoption Law Offices of Madonna M. Finney, with offices in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Franklin County, are experienced in assisting families with step parent adoption.
The advice of an experienced stepparent adoption lawyer can be invaluable. We prepare the court documents, attend all hearings before the judge, obtain the new birth certificate and advise you along the way.
Our firm has been providing comprehensive representation in all aspects of the stepparent adoption process for more than 20 years.
Madonna is the Panhandle’s only Board Certified Adoption Lawyer, recognized by the Florida Bar as an expert in adoption law. Her firm handles step parent adoptions in Tallahassee, Quincy, Hosford, Monticello, Crawfordville, Apalachicola, Carabelle, Wakulla, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Call the Florida Adoption Law Firm of Madonna M. Finney to learn more about the process of adopting a stepchild in Florida. Call us at (850)577-3077 for more information.

What is a Relative Adoption?

In Florida, a relative adoption occurs when a child is adopted by a sibling, grandparent, great grandparent, aunt or uncle.
A relative adoption can occur at birth or any time during the child’s life, throughout adulthood.
A relative adoption does not require that the adoptive parents obtain a home study.
If the child to be adopted is 12 years old or older, the child will have to consent to the adoption.
In relative adoptions, the parental rights of both birth parents are terminated.
Relative adoption is often a wonderful choice for those parents who cannot actively parent their child or children, but want to remain in the child or children’s life and have the child raised within their immediate family.
In a relative adoption, the adoptive parents become full legal parents of the child with all the rights and obligations of parenthood.
When a relative adoption finalizes, the new parents will be able to add the child to their medical insurance, consent to medical treatment, enroll a child in school, ensure the child is eligible for inheritance and claim the child on their taxes as a dependent.
The Federal Adoption Tax Credit for qualified adoption expenses is available for relatives who qualify. This credit can help to greatly reduce the costs of adoption by reducing your income tax obligation by the amount of qualified expenses.
The Florida Adoption lawyers at The Adoption Law Offices of Madonna M. Finney, with offices in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Franklin County, are experienced in assisting families with relative and grandparent adoptions.
The advice of an experienced relative adoption lawyer can be invaluable. We prepare the court documents, attend all hearings before the judge, obtain the new birth certificate and advise you along the way.
Our firm has been providing comprehensive representation in all aspects of the relative adoption process for more than 20 years.
Madonna is the Panhandle’s only Board Certified Adoption Lawyer, recognized by the Florida Bar as an expert in adoption law. Her firm handles Relative adoptions in Tallahassee, Quincy, Hosford, Monticello, Crawfordville, Apalachicola, Carabelle, Wakulla, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Call the Florida Adoption Law Firm of Madonna M. Finney to learn more about the process of adopting a relative child in Florida. Call us at (850)577-3077 for more information.

Is Adult Adoptions possible?

There are times when a parent-child relationship exists between an adult and a caregiver or family member that has been in their life. Many times, both parties would like to legalize that relationship, which can easily be done via an adult adoption. Like relative and step parent adoptions, an adult adoption can be done in one hearing, making the process faster than a typical newborn adoption.

In an adult adoption, the adult being adopted must sign a consent for adoption.
In Florida, no consent is needed from the adoptee’s biological or legal parents; however, they must receive notice of the adoption hearing.
Generally, a home study is not required in an adult adoption.
The rights of the biological parents will be terminated at the hearing and the adoptee will no longer be their legal child.
In an adult adoption, the adoptive parent or parents become the legal parents of the adult and obtain all rights and privileges that come with parenthood.

Intervention

In the State of Florida, if your child is in the care and custody of the Department of Children and Families, you may feel very stressed with limited options. If you are unable to comply with your case plan or unable to parent your child or children, a private adoption plan could be an option for you. The option to work with a private adoption attorney or agency to place your child with an adoptive family may be right for you. This option is called Intervention and will remove your child from the foster care system and place them in a loving adoptive home.

In an Intervention case, you can assist in selecting the family that is right for your child.
You may be able to meet and communicate with the family you choose for your child.
Once the court approves the placement, your child will be carefully transitioned into the adoptive parents’ home.
Intervention allows you to regain some control over your child’s future and ensure that they do not linger in foster care.
Intervention will end your case with the Department of Children and Families and you will not need to attend further court hearings.
The Florida Adoption lawyers at The Adoption Law Offices of Madonna M. Finney, with offices in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Franklin County, are experienced in assisting families with Intervention cases.
The advice of an experienced intervention lawyer can be invaluable. We prepare the court documents, attend all hearings before the judge, obtain the new birth certificate and advise you along the way.
Our firm has been providing comprehensive representation in all aspects of the adoption process for more than 20 years.
Madonna is the Panhandle’s only Board Certified Adoption Lawyer, recognized by the Florida Bar as an expert in adoption law. Her firm handles interventions in Tallahassee, Quincy, Hosford, Monticello, Crawfordville, Apalachicola, Carabelle, Wakulla, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Call the Florida Adoption Law Firm of Madonna M.Finney to learn more about the intervention process in Florida. Call us at (850)577-3077 for more information

Download Foster Child Intervention Brochure

Foster Care Adoption

If you have placement of a child through the Department of Children and Families and a Community Based Care Agency such as Big Bend Community Based Care, NWFHealthNetwork, Children’s Home Society, Families First Network or Partnership for Strong Families, you may be on the track to adopt the child. These adoptions are known as public adoptions. Children may be adopted by foster parents, relative caregivers, and non-relative caregivers.

When caregivers or others adopt from the child welfare system, the adoptive parents will need to hire an attorney for the adoption finalization process.
The family adopting will receive an adoption subsidy, part of which will include a $1,000 fee per child for legal fees in finalizing the adoption.
Once your adoption home study and adoption subsidy are approved through your local Community Based Care network and the Department of Children and Families, you are ready to start the finalization process and must choose your adoption attorney.
The Florida Adoption lawyers at The Adoption Law Offices of Madonna M. Finney, with offices in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Franklin County, are experienced in assisting families with finalizing public adoptions.
The advice of an experienced public adoption lawyer can be invaluable. We prepare the court documents, attend all hearings before the judge, obtain the new birth certificate and advise you along the way.
Our firm has been providing comprehensive representation in all aspects of adoption for more than 20 years.

Download Foster Care Finalization Brochure

Adoption.. a loving option

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