There are over 19,000 children in foster care in Florida, some temporarily and others permanently. Consequently, there are a handful of families looking to adopt these children and give them a better home. Adoption is a legal process, which means that there are certain qualifications required of adopters, a legal procedure that must be undertaken, and factors that need to be met.

The number one priority of courts when it comes to adoption is to make sure that they place the children in a safe environment and with a family that serves the child’s best interests. To help them make that decision, they’re going to be looking at both parents’:

• Jobs and work 
• Life stability 
• Sources of income
• Other children 
• Ability to provide a stable, nurturing environment for the adoptee 

These are things that the court considers, regardless of whether the parents are adopting children they are related to or not. Further, children in foster care who reach a certain age have a say on whether or not they want to be adopted. This is a decision that is also respected by the court. 

Because adoption is a complex legal process that involves the court looking into the adopters’ personal lives, it can be overwhelming to go through. A family lawyer with experience in adoption in Florida can provide guidance, help set expectations about the process, assist in filing the required documents, and ultimately, achieve a favorable outcome.