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>> About FAC > Mission Statement > Board of Directors > Legislative Support >> Additional Resources >> Frequently Asked Questions >> Member Directory >> Apply for Membership >> Back to Homepage	Some commonly asked questions regarding the adoption process in the State of Florida What is a home study? What information will I have on the birth parents? What information will the birth parents have about me? What tests will be run on the birth mother? What tests will be run on the baby? What kind of contact will we have with the birth parents? What should we say -- or not say -- when communicating with the birth parents? Will the birth mother receive counseling? How and when will we know the baby is born? Will I receive a refund of living expenses if the birth mother does not place? When will the consent for adoption be signed? Can a birth parent change his/her mind once a consent for adoption is signed? What rights do birth fathers have? Can birth mothers receive living expenses? Will my insurance cover the baby? What is post-placement supervision? When will my adoption be finalized? Where can I obtain a birth certificate? Where can I obtain a Social Security card? Is there a tax credit for adoption? How and when can I take the dependency deduction? Is the earned income credit and child tax credit available for adopted children? Should I update my will? How much does adoption cost? What is the Indian Child Welfare Act? What Is the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children? How does the Interstate Compact work? What are the ICPC Safeguards? What time is needed to process ICPC? Are there age, marital, religious or other restrictions? Will adoption professionals work with military families? Will adoption professionals work with out-of-state families? Disclaimer: The information provided above is an overview of Florida's adoption law effective June 2, 2003. It is a brief introduction to a complex topic. This is not a complete dissertation of the law, is not tailored to a specific case, and you should not rely on this document. Moreover, the adoption law is new and untested; therefore, this information may change as the courts interpret the law. When you have specific questions regarding your particular adoptive placement, please address them with your adoption professional.	Yes, beginning in 2002 the tax credit is $10,000, and it is adjusted annually for inflation cots. In 2004, it is $10,360. The tax credit is gradually phased out for higher income levels. Consult with your tax advisor or the IRS to determine your eligibility, as well as the many other tax related benefits. Families adopting a child domestically can claim the tax credit whether or not the adoption goes through. This helps families that cover the expenses of a birthmother who later decides not to release the baby for adoption. IRS Publication 968 provides an alternate method to obtain proof of the child's identity when you can't get an adoption tax number due to a disrupted adoption. Families adopting a child from overseas can take the tax credit only if the adoption becomes final. Adoptive parents must keep records of their expenses, but the IRS defines the allowable expenses broadly as "reasonable and necessary" fees including adoption, attorney fees, travel costs and other expenses related to a legal adoption. Starting in 2003, families that adopt a special needs child can claim the adoption tax credit, once the adoption is final, whether or not the family incurred any costs. Special needs is broadly defined and includes African American and racially mixed children. The child must be a citizen or resident of the U. S. Consult with your tax advisor regarding whether your adoption falls within the special needs category. You should also visit www.casey.org for detailed information on this topic.

	Executive Office • 418 W. Platt Ave., Tampa, FL 33606 • Ph. (813) 258-3355 • Fax (813) 258-3373
	State Capitol Office • P.O. Box 10728, Tallahassee, FL 32312 • Ph. (850) 577-3077

>> About FAC

> Mission Statement

> Board of Directors

> Legislative Support

>> Additional Resources

>> Frequently Asked Questions

>> Member Directory

>> Apply for Membership

>> Back to Homepage

Some commonly asked questions
regarding the adoption process in the State of Florida

What is a home study?
What information will I have on the birth parents?
What information will the birth parents have about me?
What tests will be run on the birth mother?
What tests will be run on the baby?
What kind of contact will we have with the birth parents?
What should we say -- or not say -- when communicating with the birth parents?
Will the birth mother receive counseling?
How and when will we know the baby is born?
Will I receive a refund of living expenses if the birth mother does not place?
When will the consent for adoption be signed?
Can a birth parent change his/her mind once a consent for adoption is signed?
What rights do birth fathers have?
Can birth mothers receive living expenses?
Will my insurance cover the baby?
What is post-placement supervision?
When will my adoption be finalized?
Where can I obtain a birth certificate?
Where can I obtain a Social Security card?
Is there a tax credit for adoption?
How and when can I take the dependency deduction?
Is the earned income credit and child tax credit available for adopted children?
Should I update my will?
How much does adoption cost?
What is the Indian Child Welfare Act?
What Is the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children?
How does the Interstate Compact work?
What are the ICPC Safeguards?
What time is needed to process ICPC?
Are there age, marital, religious or other restrictions?
Will adoption professionals work with military families?
Will adoption professionals work with out-of-state families?

Disclaimer: The information provided above is an overview of Florida's adoption law effective June 2, 2003. It is a brief introduction to a complex topic. This is not a complete dissertation of the law, is not tailored to a specific case, and you should not rely on this document. Moreover, the adoption law is new and untested; therefore, this information may change as the courts interpret the law. When you have specific questions regarding your particular adoptive placement, please address them with your adoption professional.

Yes, beginning in 2002 the tax credit is $10,000, and it is adjusted annually for inflation cots. In 2004, it is $10,360. The tax credit is gradually phased out for higher income levels. Consult with your tax advisor or the IRS to determine your eligibility, as well as the many other tax related benefits. Families adopting a child domestically can claim the tax credit whether or not the adoption goes through. This helps families that cover the expenses of a birthmother who later decides not to release the baby for adoption.
IRS Publication 968 provides an alternate method to obtain proof of the child's identity when you can't get an adoption tax number due to a disrupted adoption.
Families adopting a child from overseas can take the tax credit only if the adoption becomes final. Adoptive parents must keep records of their expenses, but the IRS defines the allowable expenses broadly as "reasonable and necessary" fees including adoption, attorney fees, travel costs and other expenses related to a legal adoption.
Starting in 2003, families that adopt a special needs child can claim the adoption tax credit, once the adoption is final, whether or not the family incurred any costs. Special needs is broadly defined and includes African American and racially mixed children.
The child must be a citizen or resident of the U. S. Consult with your tax advisor regarding whether your adoption falls within the special needs category. You should also visit www.casey.org for detailed information on this topic.

Executive Office • 418 W. Platt Ave., Tampa, FL 33606 • Ph. (813) 258-3355 • Fax (813) 258-3373

State Capitol Office • P.O. Box 10728, Tallahassee, FL 32312 • Ph. (850) 577-3077