Types of Adoption in Florida
Choosing to build your family is a life-changing decision, and understanding the different types of adoption in Florida is the first step toward finding the path that is right for you. In Florida, the process is built on a clear legal framework designed to protect the child, the birth parents, and you as the hopeful adoptive family.
At American Adoptions of Florida, we act as your expert guide. We help you navigate these options with clarity and confidence. As a fully licensed local agency with a commitment to marketing outreach, we provide the legal structure, financial protection, and support you need while exploring the types of adoption that will best fit your family’s dreams.
What Are the Main Types of Adoption in Florida?
In the Sunshine State, families generally choose from three primary pathways to build their families. While each leads to the same beautiful goal of parenthood, they differ significantly in cost, timeline, and the age of the child.
- Domestic Infant Adoption: Private adoptions of newborns where birth parents voluntarily choose an adoptive family.
- Foster Care Adoption: Adopting children who are currently in the state's foster system.
- International Adoption: Adopting a child from another country through the Hague Convention process.
Domestic Infant Adoption in Florida
For many, this is the most popular type of adoption because it allows you to adopt a baby from birth. In this process, a birth mother works with a private adoption agency or attorney to create an adoption plan and chooses the adoptive family herself.
- Adopting a Newborn: This is the most direct path if you wish to experience your child’s first milestones from day one.
- Birth Mother Choice: One of the greatest benefits is that you are chosen by a birth parent who feels your home is the perfect fit for her baby.
- Average Wait Time: At American Adoptions, our extensive national marketing results in an
average wait of 12 months .
Foster Care Adoption in Florida
Adopting through the foster system is a noble path that provides permanency to children whose biological parents' rights have been terminated by the court.
- Cost Effective: This is often the most affordable route, with costs ranging from $0 to $2,500.
- Older Children: It is much harder to adopt infants through foster care. The median age of a child in the system is 6 or older.
- Uncertainty: Because the state’s primary goal is family reunification, adoption is not guaranteed until parental rights are legally terminated. About 45% of children in foster care eventually reunify with their biological families.
International Adoption for Florida Families
While international adoption has declined sharply over the last decade, it remains an option for some.
- Hague Convention: Most adoptions follow strict international treaties to ensure ethical practices.
- Age and Health: Most children are toddlers or older because they must be cleared for international placement in their home country first.
- Complex Logistics: This path requires significant travel, cultural adaptation, and a lengthy U.S. citizenship process.
Other Types of Adoption You Should Know
Beyond the three main pathways, there are less common types of adoption that formalize existing family bonds:
- Stepparent Adoption: One of the different types of adoption in Florida where a spouse adopts their partner's child. This is often a simplified legal process in Florida.
- Adult Adoption: Legally formalizing a parent-child relationship with someone 18 or older. This is often done for inheritance or long-term caregiving recognition.
- Embryo Adoption: Hopeful parents "adopt" remaining embryos from another family’s IVF journey to experience pregnancy and childbirth.
Open vs. Closed Adoption: What’s the Difference?
In 2026, the most common type of adoption is an open adoption.
- Open Adoption: Allows for ongoing contact (letters, photos, or visits) between the birth and adoptive families.
- Closed Adoption: Identities remain private with no contact after placement.
The Benefits of Openness: Most different types of adoption agencies now focus on open adoptions because they help the child understand their own history. It provides the child with answers about their roots while allowing birth parents the peace of seeing their child thrive. You are the baby's legal parents.
Contact with the birth mother simply expands the child's support system.
We can help you navigate your entire journey to help build a healthy relationship for everyone involved.
What Is Transracial Adoption?
Transracial adoption occurs when a child is of a different race or ethnicity than their adoptive parents. Currently, 40% of all adoptions in the U.S. are transracial.
Success in transracial adoption requires more than love. It requires cultural competency. Families must be prepared to provide their child with representation in their community, role models who look like them, and a family identity that celebrates the child's heritage.
How to Choose the Right Type of Adoption in Florida
Choosing the path for your family often comes down to three questions:
- What age of child do you hope for? Domestic infant for newborns or foster care for older children.
- What is your budget?
Foster care is nearly free , while private domestic and international can range significantly in cost. - How long are you willing to wait? National agencies offer the shortest adoption wait times in Florida, averaging 12 months.
Work With a Licensed Adoption Agency in Florida
Choosing the right different types of adoption agencies in Florida is the most significant factor in your success. At American Adoptions of Florida, we prioritize your family’s safety and speed:
- National Marketing: We reach 12x more birth parents than local firms. This ensures you are shown to more birth parents across the U.S..
- Financial Protection: We provide
financial protection from adoption disruptions, meaning your money is protected if a match does not move forward.
All-in-One Services: We are
Ready to explore the types of adoption that are right for you?
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.