What are a Birth Mother’s Rights After an Adoption in Florida?

By Connor Shelton

Whether you’re an expecting birth mother or someone who has just given birth, it’s crucial that you understand your rights following adoption. We know you’re tired and stressed out from the whole adoption process. Despite how vague a birth mother’s rights can be after adoption, we can offer you clarification on several issues. Adoption Choices of Florida will help explain how they affect you, whether visitations or adoption resources. 

Birth Mothers’ Rights during pregnancy

It can be difficult to give up a baby for adoption. Remember, though, that you are in control of the adoption process. When devising your adoption plan, you’ll always have the final say as a birth mother. This includes who you give your child to, and how much or little contact you want to have with the adoptive family. For this section, we’ll place our focus on the adoptive family.

Choosing the people to parent your child typically occurs months before the baby’s birth. When a child is born, paperwork needs to be reviewed and signed so the adoptive family can become the child’s legal guardians. As a birth mother, you have the option to change your mind on any issue throughout the adoption process. However, once the paperwork is signed, you relinquish your legal rights as your child’s guardian. This is a momentous decision, so it’s perfectly okay for you to change your mind before signing the legal paperwork. Keep in mind that the only way to revoke an adoption is if it was done under fraud or duress.

Post-Placement Rights after I adopt my baby

How much you get to see them are based on the type of adoption you choose. Because of this, it is important to understand the ins and outs of your adoption options before committing to any of them and the subsequent post-placement communication plan. Whether you choose an open, semi-open, or closed adoption, each plan has its strengths and weaknesses. These pros and cons are subject to what you are looking for post-placement.

Rights in an open adoption

Many adoptive families seek openness when adopting a birth mother’s child. Many birth mothers choosing adoption in Florida feel the same way. Because of this, open adoption offers a whole slew of rights and possibilities for birth mothers wishing to have some contact with their child.

First off, contact between the birth mother and adoptive parents is required in an open adoption. This doesn’t mean the two parties have to meet on a daily basis. How one chooses to communicate and how often vary.Know, however, that there is still a process to follow. You’ll want to talk to your adoptive specialist about how you stay in touch with your child. Then there are the local adoption agencies. They’ll often serve as a mediator between you and the adoptive family and provide the place for you all to meet. But even though this third party, you’ll still be there to witness your child’s journey as they grow.

Rights in a semi-open adoption

Semi-open adoptions are similar to open adoptions. You still get to choose what family your child goes to and can still maintain some contact with the child. However, contact between you and the adoptive parents is limited once you give birth to your baby. You’ll still have access to non-identifying information such as first names and the adoptive family’s location. Understand that the information will be held by your local adoption agency, which will act as an intermediary between you and the adoptive family. So, if you want to maintain contact with your child but not the adoptive parents, this is your plan.

Rights in a closed adoption

As can be inferred from the name of this plan, a closed adoption offers the least amount of rights to a birth mother. You and the adoptive parents are not to contact each other, and your identity as the birth mother will be kept anonymous. The only information that will be shared with the adoptive family is your medical records, nothing else. Also, know that this type of adoption is becoming rare, though it is still in place for people who desire to stay out of your child’s life. 

Get in touch with Adoption Choices of Florida now

We hope that this guide has given you a better understanding of your rights as a birth mother upon finalizing the adoption process. At the end of the day, those rights all come down to your choice when you place your baby up for adoption in Florida. Whether you want to keep in contact with the family or maintain privacy, know that we’re here to provide whatever support and aid you might need.

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. Visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678 or text us at 904-559-1251