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Goal Is To Help The Birth Mother Turn This Difficult
Situation Into A Positive Experience |
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| Answers
To Common Birth Mother Questions |
| 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. |
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| Does the birth mother have to pay legal fees or expenses? |
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| No, all fees and expenses, including medical expenses, are paid by the prospective
adoptive
parents. The birth mother is not required to pay anything. |
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| Does the birth mother have to live in, or move to, Florida in order to work with Shorstein & Kelly?
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No, if the birth mother lives in another state, we will coordinate efforts with another attorney or licensed child-placing agency to provide the best services possible to the birth mother. If the birth mother lives in Florida, we will meet with her in person, either at our office, her home or at any other place that is convenient for her.
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| How much financial assistance may the birth mother receive?
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A birth mother is permitted to receive financial assistance for actual living and medical expenses during the term of the pregnancy and for a period after the child is born, not to exceed six weeks.
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| What if I am under the age of eighteen?
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A birth mother under the age of eighteen has the power to consent to the adoption of her child without parental consent. It is not necessary to contact the birth mother's parents or other family members in order for the birth mother to consent to an adoption plan.
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| Can the birth mother choose the adoptive parents?
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Yes, a birth mother is encouraged to specify the characteristics of the family with whom she would like to raise her baby. We will provide information about several families having the characteristics and qualities listed by the birth mother. She may speak with the adoptive family by telephone or in person in order to reinforce that she has chosen the perfect family for her baby.
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| Can the birth mother see the baby after birth?
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Yes, the birth mother determines how much contact she would like to have with the baby. Some birth mothers desire to "room in" with the baby at the hospital, while others choose to have very limited or no contact.
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| When does the birth mother sign the papers to terminate her rights?
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After the birth of the child and before the birth mother is discharged from the hospital she will sign the legal papers which will terminate her parental rights to the child. A consent for adoption, once signed, is binding and irrevocable. |
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| When do the adoptive parents receive the baby?
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Immediately, in fact, many birth mothers request that the adoptive mother be present in the delivery room so that the adoptive mother may be with the baby from the moment of birth. The adoptive parents will take the baby home directly from the hospital. The baby is not required to be placed in a foster home.
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| Can the birth mother receive pictures and updates after the baby is born?
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Yes, the adoptive parents provide the birth mother with pictures and updates for a period of at least five years after the baby is born. The adoptive parents send the pictures and updates to us for forwarding to the birth mother.
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| Is the birth mother required to appear in court?
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| No.
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The
hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be
based solely upon advertisements.
Before you decide, ask
us to
send you free written information about our qualifications and
experience. |
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| Copyright ©
2008 Shorstein & Kelly Attorneys At Law, P.A.
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BEACH: 386 - 673 - 1234