Florida Adoption With an Unknown or Unsupportive Biological Father

There are hundreds of things pregnant women facing an unplanned pregnancy worry about. With so many uncertainties, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. One of the first questions pregnant women have when considering adoption is, “Do I have to tell the birth father”? After all, it takes two to make pregnancy happen, and you have to consider both sides. However, not everyone is in an ideal situation, and it can be scary to have to face the difficult task of confronting the biological Father about adoption.

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, we know you have a lot of questions and concerns. Adoption Choices of Florida guides you through the Florida adoption process and helps with options regarding the birth father. Our team of compassionate professionals will help you determine the best plan of action.

 If you’re new to the adoption world, you probably have never had to consider what rights a Biological Father has in Florida. Adoption is often centered around the mother, and it’s assumed that the father plays no role in the process. On the contrary, biological fathers do have rights, for better or worse.

What Rights Do Biological Fathers Have in Florida?

Every situation is different, and not everyone has a supportive partner. If you’re not in a place where you feel safe telling the birth father or unsure of how to contact him, you’re probably wondering what your options are.

• Can I place my baby up for adoption without telling the biological father knowing?
• What if I don’t know how to contact the biological father?
• Can the biological father prevent me from choosing adoption?
• Do biological fathers in Florida have parental rights?

Laws will vary depending on the state. In Florida, the marital status does make a difference in the rights the biological father has. Only the biological father has parental rights to the child, so if the mother is married to someone other than the biological father, that person does not have any legal authority. Although the biological father does have parental rights, in most cases, the biological mother, baby, and adoptive parent’s interests outweigh the biological father’s. Time is of the essence for the biological father if he wants to reject the adoption plan. If the proper paperwork isn’t filed in time or correctly, the courts will default against the biological father, and his consent will no longer be required.  Contact your adoption caseworker or legal advisor about the laws in your state.

All efforts are made to notify the father of the adoption plan to protect his rights. It’s in the best interest of everyone for you to be 100% honest and open with your adoption counselor so they can determine the plan of action regarding the birth father. Nothing ever goes well if it’s rushed or if you wait to notify the birth father after your baby has been placed with the adoptive family.

Can I Choose Adoption in Florida Without the Biological Father’s Consent?

All too often, the biological father is unknown or uninvolved. Some birth mothers never tell the father if they feel it is unsafe to do so. The situation with the biological father can really throw a wrench in your adoption plans and complicate things. Don’t lose hope of choosing adoption if you think the biological father would disapprove. Talk to your adoption counselor and explain your situation and fears. We will do whatever we can to ease those fears and walk you through all of your options. Birth mothers come from all cases and walks of life, and we work with women every day who are in tricky circumstances with the birth father. We’re here to help you and your baby in any way we can.

Adoption without the parental consent of the biological father is possible. As much as we wish we could provide solid answers that cover all situations, that’s not the case. Your situation is unique, and parental consent is determined on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to us at Adoption Choices of Florida 24/7, 365, even on holidays. Remember, we’re here to help you, and you are not alone in your adoption journey.

How to Talk to the Biological Father About the Adoption

One of the most challenging parts of an unplanned pregnancy is telling people about the pregnancy and the adoption. Trying to break the news to the person who could potentially stand between you and choosing adoption is terrifying. Contacting the biological father can be difficult for many reasons. You may have had a tumultuous relationship, a bad break-up, or even a divorce. In most cases, the father will be notified about the pregnancy and adoption eventually. Even if you’re no longer in regular contact or not on good terms, you can still attempt to inform him of your plan.

If you don’t feel safe confronting the father alone, you can communicate via the adoption agency. It can even help in moving towards a mutual agreement and avoid conflict.

Is Your Baby’s Birth Father Unknown or Unsupportive?

Emotionally, adoption is always easier if your partner is supportive. It’s nice to have someone to lean on and help make the hard decisions with. Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy as an unmarried woman can feel inedibly isolating. Lack of support aside, adoption becomes instantly more complicated if you have no assistance from or don’t know how to get ahold of the biological father. Adoption Choices of Florida will talk you through all of your options, the process of obtaining consent, and what you can do without consent. The biological father does not have to be the end-point for your adoption. Yes, he has rights, but in the end, rulings will favor the best interest of your baby and their future. What concerns do you have about the biological father? Do your concerns hinder your decision to choose adoption?

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption, and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678