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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.	If an adoptive family is from state A (receiving state) and the baby is born in state B (sending state), ICPC applies. In this situation: 1. The family would travel to the sending state for the adoption of the child. 2. Before they are allowed to leave the sending state, the adoption agency would submit (by Federal Express) the ICPC paperwork to the sending state's ICPC office. 3. After the sending state has approved the adoption, all of the paperwork would then be forwarded (by Federal Express) to the receiving state's ICPC office. 4. Once the receiving state has approved the paperwork, the family is notified of the approval, and only then can they return to their state. If ICPC is not followed, or the family leaves before ICPC approval, the adoption could be jeopardized and the child may be returned to the sending state. Florida allows for the adoptive family to stay with the child during the wait.

	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.

If an adoptive family is from state A (receiving state) and the baby is born in state B (sending state), ICPC applies. In this situation:
1. The family would travel to the sending state for the adoption of the child.
2. Before they are allowed to leave the sending state, the adoption agency would submit (by Federal Express) the ICPC paperwork to the sending state's ICPC office.
3. After the sending state has approved the adoption, all of the paperwork would then be forwarded (by Federal Express) to the receiving state's ICPC office.
4. Once the receiving state has approved the paperwork, the family is notified of the approval, and only then can they return to their state.
If ICPC is not followed, or the family leaves before ICPC approval, the adoption could be jeopardized and the child may be returned to the sending state. Florida allows for the adoptive family to stay with the child during the wait.

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