{"id":1680,"date":"2024-06-07T14:59:25","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T18:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridaadoptionattorney.com\/?p=1680"},"modified":"2024-11-03T18:41:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T23:41:25","slug":"floridas-surrendered-infant-law-gets-a-big-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridaadoptionattorney.com\/blog\/floridas-surrendered-infant-law-gets-a-big-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida’s Surrendered Infant Law Gets a Big Heart: How HB 775 Benefits Mothers, Children, and Prospective Adoptive Families"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exciting news for Florida families!\u00a0House Bill 775,\u00a0taking effect July 1,\u00a02024,\u00a0brings significant changes to our state’s law regarding surrendered infants. At Tate Healey Webster,\u00a0we applaud these advancements that prioritize the well-being of birth parents and children and are proud that lawmakers consulted with one of our attorneys, Jeanne T. Tate, in revising this law.<\/p>\n

For over 20 years, Florida law has offered a safe and legal option for a birth parent to choose for their infant, instead of abandoning a baby in a dangerous situation. Specifically, a birth mother or birth father can choose to safely surrender their infant at\u00a0designated locations including hospitals, emergency medical services stations, or fire stations in a confidential and safe manner. The birth parent’s identity remains anonymous,\u00a0and the birth parent is protected from any legal repercussions as long as there is no actual or suspected child abuse or neglect. Upon the surrender of the child, the child is placed with an adoption entity who finds a loving home for the child with court approval. The birth parent has a statutory timeframe to change his or her mind and reclaim their surrendered infant, and once this waiting period is over, the child is adopted into an approved home. This law is often called the “Safe Haven Law.”<\/p>\n

Previously,\u00a0Florida’s Safe Haven Law allowed parents to anonymously surrender unharmed newborns up to 7 days old at these designated locations. HB 775 is expanding the statute’s vital protections in several key way which take effect on July 1:<\/p>\n