Jun 29, 2026
If you are pregnant in Florida and considering adoption, understanding your rights is the single most important thing you can do before making any decision. Not because the process is something to be afraid of, but because knowing what you are entitled to gives you the confidence to make a choice that truly reflects what you want for yourself and your child. I am a board-certified adoption attorney in Florida, and I want to walk you through what birth mothers in this state actually have the right to expect.
You Have the Right to Choose the Adoptive Family
This surprises many expectant mothers. In Florida, you do not have an agency or attorney assign a family to your child. You review profiles of pre-screened adoptive families and you make the selection yourself. You can base that decision on anything that matters to you, whether that is family values, lifestyle, location, religion, the feeling you get when you read their profile, or simply your instinct. The decision belongs to you.
You Have the Right to Change Your Mind Before Consent Is Signed
Under Florida law, no consent to adoption can be signed until at least 48 hours after your baby is born. Before that signature is made, you can change your mind at any point without legal consequence. This is one of the most important protections Florida law provides to birth mothers, and it is something every expectant mother deserves to know before she makes any decisions.
You Have the Right to Choose the Type of Adoption
Open, semi-open, or closed. You decide.
- Open adoption allows for ongoing contact including photos, letters, calls, and visits
- Semi-open adoption typically involves communication through a third party
- Closed adoption involves no identifying information shared between parties
Whatever feels right for your situation is a valid choice, and the plan is built around your wishes.
You Have the Right to Financial Assistance During Pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery
Florida law permits financial assistance for expectant mothers who are working through the adoption process. This can include help with housing, groceries, transportation to medical appointments, and medical expenses not covered by insurance. You should never feel financially pressured into any decision, and understanding what assistance may be available to you is part of making a fully informed choice.
You Have the Right to a Birth Plan
Your hospital experience is yours. You decide who is in the delivery room. You decide how much time you spend with your baby after birth. You decide what that day looks like for you. The adoption plan does not take over your birth plan. Those are two separate things, and both belong to you.
What Happens After You Call?
When expectant mothers call or text me, they are not starting a legal process. They are starting a conversation. I answer questions, explain the process clearly, and make sure you have everything you need to make a decision that is truly yours. Nothing more, and nothing less. We have offices across Florida in Tampa, Orlando, Naples, Merritt Island, Jacksonville, and Boca Raton, and we have helped birth mothers from every part of the state understand their options and find a path forward that felt right for them. If you are pregnant and want to understand your rights, I am happy to talk. Call or text me directly at 813-258-3359. It is completely confidential and there is no obligation of any kind.
Erica T. Healey Board-Certified Adoption Attorney Tate Healey Webster, Adoption and Surrogacy Attorneys 813-258-3359 — Call or Text Anytime, Completely Confidential
