Information for Adoptive Parents
 We understand what a wonderful journey adoption can be. We also understand that it can be confusing and intimidating. We are here to help lessen that and help you to become informed, educated and empowered about the process. We believe that all parties deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and we uphold that everyday. Whether you are just starting to think about adoption or are confident that you want to become an adoptive parent, Miracles Adoption Agency, Inc. will be happy to guide you through the adoption experience.
The Florida Statutes govern the requirements for adoptions in the state of Florida. If you currently reside in another state, the answers to the questions may be different because each state has enacted its own set of adoption laws. We work with Adoptive Families from other states and will be able to provide you with the help you need.
Below are some of the more common questions Adoptive Parents have. We are more than happy to answer individual questions. Please contact us and we can provide more individualized information. You can call us at (352) 374-7977 or toll free at 1-877-374-7977.
Adoption Frequently Asked Questions - Adoptive Parents
*Click on a question below to link to its answer.
1. How many families do you work with?
2. What is the cost of adoption?
3. How long will it take to get a baby?
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Can we pick the sex?
5. How am I matched with a birth mother?
6. What information do you obtain on the birth parents?
7. What information will the birth parents have about me?
8. What tests will be run on the birth mother?
9. What tests will be run on the baby?
10. What kind of contact will we have with the birth parents?
11. Will the birth mother receive counseling?
12. When will the consent for adoption be signed?
13. What about the birth fathers?
14. Can birth mothers receive living expenses?
15. How does a disrupted placement affect my position on the waiting list?
16. When will my adoption be finalized?
17. When can I obtain a birth certificate?
18. When can I obtain a social security card?
19. Are there age, marital, religious or other restrictions?
20. Will you work with out-of-state families?
21. How do we start the adoption process?
1. How many families do you work with?
We limit the number of adoptive families we work with at one time in order to provide specialized one-on-one service and contact. That allows us to really get to know our families and to always have the time for whatever the family or birth mother needs.
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2. What is the cost of adoption?
There are several factors that determine the total cost. Variables such as medical bills, birth mother expenses and legal fees are sometimes tough to estimate, but we strive to maintain affordable adoptions without cutting corners. We want to make sure that the adoption process is comfortable for you, both emotionally and financially.
Part of the adoption plan we formulate with you will be you telling us what your budget is. Adoptive families are allowed to place a cap on the miscellaneous fees based on their budget requirements. Keep in mind, our fee estimates do not include miscellaneous fees like your travel expenses when you pick up the baby.
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3. How long will it take to get a baby?
There is a wide variety of waiting periods dependent upon a host of controllable and non-controllable factors. Waits can be dramatically shorter or longer depending on individual situations and the restrictions you have on the type of child you select.
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4. Can we pick the sex?
You can choose to only accept only a certain gender, however, that may lengthen your wait time.
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5. How am I matched with a birth mother?
The birth mother usually makes a “dream family list” that identifies the qualities important to her in an adoptive family. She is then presented with our families that meet her requests. When she chooses a family, it is considered a “match”. Some birth mothers prefer for us to select the family, and this is done in chronological order.
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6.
What information do you obtain on the birth parents?
Instead of staff just doing a cursory internet check as some agencies do, we use a fully-licensed Private Investigator to make every effort to retrieve as much background information we can on all of our birth mothers and birth fathers. Also lengthy family, social and medical history compiled by the birth mother, and sometimes the birth father. Where possible, we also obtain medical records from the OB/GYN and the hospital. We cannot guarantee the health or medical history of the baby. We will request that the birth mother fill out a medical questionnaire and medical releases. However, she is not required by law to do so and may decline our request. However, the agency will be monitoring the doctor visits and we will require proof of pregnancy and request any sonograms or other baby- related information.
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7. What information will the birth parents have about me?
Your birth mother letter and family profile. The birth parents may also ask additional questions which will be answered with your approval. It is not uncommon, for example, for a birth mother to want to know the first name you select for the baby.
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8. What tests will be run on the birth mother?
We generally request HIV, drug screening, hepatitis and all the normal OB/GYN tests. However, we cannot force nor require the birth mother to undergo these tests. We will require proof of pregnancy, ultrasounds, etc.
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9. What tests will be run on the baby?
Where indicated, we order HIV, drug screen, hepatitis and thyroid tests. If you request others, these can almost always be obtained.
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10.What kind of contact will we have with the birth parents?
That will depend on the type of adoption (closed, semi-open or open) and what you agree to. It is common for birth parents to want to speak to the adoptive parents on the phone, exchange letters and/or meet either before or at the time of placement. Almost always, this contact is limited to pre-birth and the hospital period, although some birth mothers request a baby dedication or one-time meeting shortly after birth. The type and duration of contact will be worked out before placement in the adoption plan.
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11. Will the birth mother receive counseling?
We strongly advocate counseling for the birth mother, and encourage it to the extent possible. Some birth mothers are not willing to attend counseling and, of course, cannot be forced to do so.
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12. When will the consent for adoption be signed?
Pursuant to Florida law, the consent will be signed no sooner than 48 hours after delivery unless the birth mother is being discharged earlier by her doctor. The wait may be slightly longer dependent upon what medical procedures and medication the birth mother is recovering from.
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13. What about the birth fathers?
In Florida, there are certain requirements a birth father has to meet in order to prevent an adoption. Using a licensed Private Investigator, we attempt to locate and contact birth fathers to see if they will voluntarily cooperate with the adoption and sign a consent. For birth fathers who will not cooperate, the judge will determine if he provided the pre-birth support necessary to prevent adoption by Florida law. All placements are “at-risk” until the court terminates the birth parents’ rights.
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14. Can birth mothers receive living expenses?
Yes. Florida law permits adoptive parents to pay the actual and reasonable living expenses during the pregnancy and up to a maximum of six weeks following delivery if the birth mother is unemployed, underemployed or suffering from a medically diagnosed disability.
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15. How does a disrupted placement affect my position on the waiting list?
Although not common, disruption can happen. Families that have a disrupted placement immediately go to the top of the waiting list.
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16. When will my adoption be finalized?
Florida law permits finalization once the 90 day post-placement supervision period has expired, however, the Petition for Adoption cannot be set for final hearing until 30 days after entry of the Final Judgment Terminating Parental Rights. Finalization generally occurs within five months after placement.
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17. When can I obtain a birth certificate?
After finalization of the adoption, and it usually takes 4 - 6 weeks thereafter to obtain.
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18. When can I obtain a social security card?
Once the adoption is finalized and you receive the birth certificate. You can then apply for one at your local office.
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19. Are there age, marital, religious or other restrictions?
Not at our agency. However, Florida law requires that you must be heterosexual.
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20. Will you work with out-of-state families?
Yes.
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21. How do we start the adoption process?
Call us at 1-877-374-7977, day or night or e-mail us at info@miraclesadoption.com. We are here for you!
DISCLAIMER:
The information provided above is an overview of Florida’s adoption law. It is a brief introduction to a complex topic and you should not rely on this document. When you have specific questions regarding your particular adoptive placement, please address them with us, or another qualified adviser.
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