If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, you may be considering making an adoption plan for your baby, a beautiful and loving choice. If you have a relative that you feel would offer a good home and would like to adopt your child, this can be a great option. Relative adoption is a good way to ensure that your child not only grows and thrives but is raised with your family traditions and culture. You can choose to place your child with a relative at birth, or at any time during the child’s life, if the need arises.

If the relative you choose to be your child’s parent is within the third degree of blood relation to you, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling, Florida law allows for a relatively simple adoption process. There is no home study process, costs significantly less than a non-relative adoption, and can be completed all in one step at a single court hearing.

Adoptions involving non-relatives or more distant relatives are a bit more complicated. The law requires that the prospective adoptive parents undergo a home study process and become approved for placement before an adoption can occur. Additionally, in non-relative adoptions, the case must proceed in two steps: termination of the biological parents’ parental rights and then finalization of the adoption.

Our firm specializes in adoption law. Madonna Finney is board certified in adoption and is a member of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. Our attorneys are committed to helping build families through adoption and we have offices in Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Franklin County.  We would be happy to help you with your stepparent adoption needs.  We can be reached at (850) 577-3077.