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Who Needs to Consent to an Adoption?
Typically, a child’s biological parents must consent to an adoption. Courts can waive this requirement if it is in the best interest of a child to do so. For example, if a child’s parents have abandoned them, then adoptive parents would likely not need their consent.
If a child is older than 12, they must also consent unless a court determines otherwise.
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What Paperwork Do Adoptions Typically Require?
Some required adoption documents can include:
- A home study, as described above.
- The birth certificates of the adoptive parents.
- Pertinent marriage certificates or divorce decrees.
- Medical letters from the adoptive parents’ physician(s).
- Police reports that affirm the adoptive parents do not have a criminal record.
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What Is the Home Study Process?Relative and stepparent adoptions do not require a home study, but third-party adoptions do. Home studies include criminal background checks, a visit to the adoptive home, and interviews.
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What Expenses Can Adoptive Families Pay in an Adoption?Florida law allows adoptive parents to pay for a birth parent’s medical and living expenses both during the pregnancy and up to six weeks after a child’s birth. They may also pay for legal and professional fees such as the cost of filing for the adoption or seeking counseling.
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Does Florida Allow Adoption to Be Reversed?Courts do not allow adoptions to be reversed once they have been finalized for a year. They will make exceptions to this rule if a child’s well-being is at risk.
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What Is the Difference Between a Contested and Uncontested Adoption?
In a contested adoption, one or both biological parents will have objected to the adoption, or their whereabouts will be unknown. In an uncontested adoption, a child’s biological parents will have agreed to the adoption, or a court will have already terminated their parental rights.
Uncontested adoptions are generally faster than those that are contested. The time frame for an uncontested adoption can be as little as a few months, while contested adoptions can take much longer.
