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Home/Family Law/Adoption

Complex Divorce & Family Law

Orlando Adoption Attorney

Stepparent, relative, and adult adoptions handled with care and precision.

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Formalizing and protecting your family

Adoption permanently establishes a parent-child relationship in the eyes of the law, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with it. Florida adoptions are governed by Chapter 63. Most of the adoptions we handle are within families:

  • Stepparent adoption — a spouse adopts their husband's or wife's child;
  • Relative / kinship adoption — a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative;
  • Adult adoption — adopting a person who is already an adult;
  • Co-parent adoption within a family.

Consent and termination of parental rights

The central legal step is usually the consent or termination of the existing parent's rights. In a stepparent adoption, the other biological parent generally must consent, or the court must terminate that parent's rights — for example on the basis of abandonment. Handling this correctly is what makes the adoption secure and final.

The process

  • File the petition and supporting consents;
  • Obtain any required termination of parental rights;
  • Complete a home study where required (often waived for stepparent and close-relative adoptions);
  • Attend a final hearing, after which a new birth certificate is issued.

Frequently asked questions

How does stepparent adoption work in Florida?

The stepparent petitions to adopt; the other biological parent either consents or has their parental rights terminated. Once finalized, the stepparent becomes the child's legal parent.

Do we need the other biological parent's consent?

Usually yes — or a court order terminating that parent's rights, such as for abandonment. This is the key issue in most stepparent adoptions.

Is a home study always required?

No. A formal home study is frequently waived in stepparent and close-relative adoptions, though the court can still require one.

Can I adopt an adult?

Yes. Florida permits adult adoption, which is often used to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship or for inheritance and family reasons.

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