Placing a Child for Adoption? You Have Rights!
If you are considering placing your baby or child for adoption and you live in Florida, you have rights and you should know what those rights are. Not all agencies and adoption attorneys are looking out for your best interest. (If you live in another state, contact an adoption attorney licensed in your state and find out what your specific rights are there.)
You Have Rights: Before You Place Your Child…
- You have the right to be treated honorably and with dignity and respect and never to be pressured or coerced.
- You have the right regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or medical or mental disabilities to receive the same adoption services as anyone else.
- You have the right to total confidentiality unless you have given written permission or there is a court order. Your life and decisions are solely your business and you have a right to keep them private.
- You have the right to change your mind at any point in the process and to decide to parent your child.
- You have the right to receive counseling both before and after your placement.
- You have the right to choose the adoptive family that adopts your child and you have the right to meet them if you so choose.
- You have the right to request pertinent information about prospective adoptive families such as their race, religion, cultural and/or ethnic background, age, family composition, level of education, interests/hobbies, and anything else that may influence your decision in choosing a family.
- You have the right to choose the level of openness you want with an adoptive family with the understanding that this agreement may or may not be legally binding.
You Have Rights: At the Hospital or Birthing Center and Beyond…
- You have the right to work with whatever agency or adoption attorney you want.
- You have the right to have family members, friends, or advocates present at any meeting and/or document signings for support.
- You have the right to make your own hospital and delivery plan.
- You have the right to interact with your baby like any mom including feeding, naming, holding the baby, etc…
- You have the right to be independently represented by your own attorney.
- You have the right to sign your consent to the adoption at the time of your choosing (as long as it is legally permissible) and the place of your choosing.
- You have the right to have at least one person of your own choosing as a witness to your consent signing.
- You have the right to understand every line of every document you sign and you have the right to have an interpreter present if needed.
- If you don’t know or understand the documents, you have the right not to sign them.
- You have the right to obtain and be given copies of any and all documents that you sign.
- You have the right to report to authorities any unethical or unlawful behavior by anyone involved in your adoption journey.
You Have Rights: Financial Assistance…
- You have the right to change your mind and parent even if you have received financial assistance. You are not selling a baby and you have the right to change your mind.
Knowing your rights as an expectant mom who is considering adoption will help you find an ethical and honorable adoption professional who will make sure your rights are protected.
Tammi Driver is an adoption attorney that will make sure you are fully protected and that your wishes as an expectant mom considering adoption are respected. Call us today at 727-800-6681 to talk to Tammi directly. YOU HAVE RIGHTS and it is important you know and understand them.