LGBTQ+ Adoption

Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Adoption Lawyers at 800-822-5170

Florida used to have the only legal statute in the United States explicitly banning adoption for same-sex couples. In 2010, the Florida Supreme Court deemed the statute unconstitutional, opening up adoption to all residents of the state. And, since the legalization of same-sex marriages in 2015, adoption among LGBTQ+ couples is now more common than ever. However, the legal processes are still complex and time-consuming. Our Fort Walton Beach adoption attorneys are here to help.

Contact us in Fort Walton Beach to take the first steps toward growing your family: 800-822-5170.

Types of Adoption for Same-Sex Couples

Depending on your situation, a variety of adoption types are available to the LGBTQ+ community, including:

• Joint adoption – this type of adoption allows both parties to jointly become legal parents of the child. This is only available to married, same-sex couples and is not currently an option for unmarried couples.
• Single adoption – single adoption is an option for unmarried couples, or for someone in the LGBTQ+ community to adopt as a single parent, through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or through a private adoption agency. Applying through DCF requires more paperwork, classes, and questionnaires, but is generally cheaper than private adoption. Additionally, DCF offers a variety of reimbursements and benefits to those who adopt through them. Adopting through a private agency often requires an in-home study, and generally costs thousands of dollars more than a DCF adoption.
• Stepparent adoption – this type of adoption streamlines the process of becoming a legal parent to your spouse’s child. Reserved for married couples, this process is the same for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. In order to adopt as a stepparent, one of the partners must be the biological parent of the child, and the other biological parent must relinquish all parental rights, as Florida law does not allow a child to have more than 2 legal parents.
• Second parent adoption – this type of adoption was previously used for those wanting to adopt their spouse’s child. Although more expensive than stepparent adoption, second parent adoption is available for unmarried LGBTQ+ couples, and is usable when the ward is not the biological child of either parent.

Our Fort Walton Beach Adoption Attorneys Are Ready to Help You

LGBTQ+ adoption laws are constantly changing. At The Virga Law Firm, P.A., our lawyers stay up to date on all the processes and legalities concerning LGBTQ+ adoption. We are honored to help people grow their families and are eager to assist you through this process.

We are available 24/7 to answer your questions. Contact our adoption lawyers in Fort Walton Beach today.