Adoptions of Children in Foster Care
Assisting Foster Parents, Birth Parents, and Others
Foster Parents: If you are a foster parent seeking to adopt a foster child currently in your care, we can help. In most cases, you will utilize our services to finalize the adoption following termination of parental rights in the dependency case. It is after the court enters an order terminating parental rights that the Florida Department of Children and Families will authorize you to begin the adoption proceedings. We can process the adoption court proceedings for you, and the Department will pay all of your legal fees and expenses.
In other cases, you may prefer to speed up the process and enlist our services before parental rights are terminated in the dependency case. In these situations, we will process both the termination of parental rights case and the adoption case. We may assist you whether your status is still that of a temporary foster parent or relative placement, or has reached the stage of long term guardians.
Birth Parents: If you are a birth parent with a child in the foster care system, we can offer a very positive solution. We understand that having your child taken into the foster care system, and sometimes languishing there for months, or even years, can be extremely traumatic for you and your child. In order to act in their child's best interest, many birth parents would prefer to have their child immediately removed from the foster care system and adopted by a stable and loving two-parent home. If you are a birth parent with a child in the foster care system, we can assist in having your child immediately removed from foster care and placed for private adoption with one of our adoptive families, with your relatives, or with some other adoptive family selected by you. This will permit you to immediately rescue your child from the state's foster care system, and cause your protective services case to be closed. It will also permit you to immediately begin receiving photos and information about your child. If, instead, you elect to leave your child in the foster care system, and your parental rights are eventually terminated by the state in the dependency case, you will have no such assurances.
Other Persons Desiring To Adopt A Child From The Foster Care System: If you are not a foster parent, but know of a child in the foster care system that you would like to adopt, contact us. We may be able to help you make it happen.
More Than 60 Years of Adoption Law Experience
At the Adoption Center, with offices across Northwest Florida, our three adoption attorneys have more than 60 years of combined adoption experience. We understand that hiring the right attorney -- an attorney or a law firm with a background and extensive experience in adoption law -- is vital to the process.
Robison "Rob" Harrell, our founding attorney, is an adoptive father. With 25 years of adoption experience, he is a member of the prestigious American Academy of Adoption Attorneys; is the current president, and a director, of the Florida Adoption Council; and is the current president of the Florida Association of Adoption Lawyers.
Alice H. Murray, with 23 years of adoption experience as an adoption attorney, is also an officer and director of the Florida Adoption Council.
Sallie Y. Norris is our third attorney, who has a degree in social work and more than 12 years of adoption experience.
Representation And Services Tailored to Your Needs
We offer a wide range of support to birth parents with a child in the foster care system, and to foster parents and other persons desiring to adopt a child from the foster care system. Whether you are currently the foster parent of a child, or some other person wanting to adopt a child from the foster care system, or you are a birth parent wishing to have your child immediately removed from the state foster care system, we can provide the legal support you need.
We are passionately dedicated to the practice of adoption law. For every client, we take the time to fully explore and understand your situation and your goals. We work diligently to finalize each adoption as quickly, smoothly, and efficiently as possible. We love making adoption miracles happen.
We can provide the support you need from the very beginning, guiding and processing the adoption of a foster child from start to finish. Contact us online or call toll free at 866-585-8977 to arrange a free consultation.
