Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Adoption

When a person seeks to adopt a child in Florida, part of the process involves terminating the rights of the legal parents. What must be shown to terminate the rights of a parent? This was an issue in the case D.C. v. In re: The Matter of the Adoption of N.L.W., 1D2023-1725 (Fla. 1st DCA July 10, 2024).

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Adoption

A stepparent adoption can be relatively easy if both legal parents consent to the adoption. As long as certain statutory requirements are met in filing the petition, consent and other required documents, this type of case can be uncontested and resolved fairly quickly. Denial of an uncontested stepparent adoption petition was an issue in the case R.P.M. v. Proposed Adoption of I.R.M., 4D2023-0558 (Fla. 4th DCA December 20, 2023).

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Adoption

As with any other proceeding in Florida family law, due process is a required part of an adoption proceeding. Due process requires that all parties who have an interest in the outcome of the case be given notice of the case, usually. This was an issue in I.T. v. P.G.U., 2D21-558 (Fla. 2d DCA February 11, 2022) in which a grandmother contested a final judgment of adoption entered in favor of another relative.

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Adoption

As part of the Florida adoption process, a biological parent’s rights are terminated. Before the parent’s rights to the child can be terminated, a process defined by statute must occur in order to ensure the parent knowingly and voluntarily gave up his or her parental rights. Alternatively, there can be a trial on whether or not the parent’s rights should be terminated. A parent’s change of mind after consent to termination has been signed can be the subject of litigation. This was an issue in the case M.J.G. v. A. Julia Graves, 4D21-1675 (Fla. 4th DCA January 5, 2022).

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Adoption

Stepparent adoptions in Florida are a way to legalize the bond between a stepparent and a child. Sometimes, a birth parent may have abandoned a child financially or physically, or is otherwise absent. In this case, most times a child is more familiar with a stepparent who has taken on a parental role in the absence of the birth parent. Adopting a child in Florida involves a two-step process, the first of which is to legally terminate the parental rights of the absent parent. A recently published appellate case reviews a trial court’s decision to deny a request to terminate a parent’s rights.

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Adoption

Adoption is a wonderful option for families looking to expand. There are generally two types of Florida adoptions: those involving relatives and those involving non-relatives wanting to adopt a child. The process for each differs in significant ways.