Florida Adoption • Stepparent • Relative • Adult Adoption

St. Augustine Adoption Attorneys

Helping Florida Families Complete the Legal Adoption Process

Adoption creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship and can provide families with stability, security and a clear legal foundation for the future.

St. Johns Law Group assists individuals and families with Florida adoptions involving stepparents, relatives, adults and other Chapter 63 proceedings throughout St. Augustine and Northeast Florida.

✓ Stepparent and relative adoptions
✓ Adult adoptions
✓ Consent, parental-rights and contested adoption issues
Request a Consultation Call (904) 495-0400 Email Us
St. Johns Law Group St. Augustine Area’s Largest Law Firm
Legal Team 14 Attorneys Full-Service Legal Team
Experience 300+ Years Combined Legal Experience
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Florida Chapter 63 Adoption Act
Family-Focused Clear legal guidance
Consent & Notice Procedural compliance
Finalization Petition • Hearing • Judgment
Florida Adoption Act

Adoption Under Florida Law

Florida Chapter 63 governs adoption proceedings and the creation of the legal relationship between an adoptive parent and the person being adopted.

Florida law permits both minors and adults to be adopted. The required procedure depends on the type of adoption, the identity of the petitioner, the age of the adoptee and the status of the biological parents' rights.

Our role is to identify the correct process, prepare the required filings and help the family move from the initial legal assessment through finalization.

Florida Chapter 63 — Adoption →
Adoption Creates a New Legal Relationship

More Than a Change of Name or Household

A final judgment of adoption establishes the legal relationship between the adoptive parent and adoptee and carries significant legal consequences for the family.

That is why consent, parental-rights status, notice and finalization requirements should be addressed carefully before the case is filed.

Florida Adoption Services

Types of Adoptions We Assist With

Different adoption relationships can follow different procedural paths under Florida law.

Family Adoption

Stepparent Adoption

A stepparent may seek to become the legal parent of a spouse's child. The process can involve consent from the other legal parent or resolution of that parent's legal rights.

Family Adoption

Relative Adoption

Florida law provides procedures for adoption by qualifying relatives, which can differ from traditional nonrelative adoption proceedings.

Adult Adoption

Adoption of an Adult

Florida permits adults to be adopted. Adult adoption has distinct requirements and generally does not involve the same termination process required for adoption of a minor.

Chapter 63

Other Adoption Proceedings

We can evaluate other Florida adoption matters involving consent, parental-rights status, notice and court approval under Chapter 63.

Florida Statute §63.042

Who May Adopt in Florida?

Florida law identifies who may adopt and expressly permits the adoption of both minors and adults.

  • A husband and wife may adopt jointly
  • An unmarried adult may adopt
  • In certain circumstances, a married person may adopt without the other spouse joining the petition
  • A minor or an adult may be adopted
Florida Statute §63.042 →

The Correct Procedure Depends on the Relationship

Stepparent, relative and adult adoptions can receive different procedural treatment from other adoption proceedings.

Identifying the correct type of adoption at the beginning can avoid unnecessary filings and procedural problems later.

St. Johns Law Group attorneys helping families with Florida adoption matters in St. Augustine
Building Families Through Florida Adoption St. Johns Law Group assists families with the legal steps required to complete Florida adoptions.
Stepparent Adoption

When a Stepparent Wants to Become the Legal Parent

Stepparent adoption is one of the most common family-based adoption proceedings.

When the legal requirements are satisfied, adoption can formalize the existing parent-child relationship between a child and the stepparent who has become an important part of the child's family.

The process may require review of the other legal parent's consent, parental-rights status, notice and any basis for proceeding without consent.

  • Review existing legal parentage
  • Determine whose consent is required
  • Address notice and service
  • Prepare the adoption petition
  • Proceed toward final hearing and judgment
Relative Adoption

Adoption by a Relative

Relative adoption can provide long-term legal stability when a child is already being raised within an extended family.

Florida law recognizes special procedures for qualifying relatives. The particular requirements depend on the family relationship, parental-rights status and circumstances of the child.

Legal adoption can be materially different from an informal caregiving arrangement or guardianship because adoption creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship.

Guardianship and Adoption Are Different

A guardianship can provide legal authority to care for another person without necessarily creating the same permanent parent-child relationship established through adoption.

The appropriate option depends on the family's goals and legal circumstances.

Adult Adoption

Florida Adult Adoption

Florida law permits an adult to be adopted.

Adult adoption may be used to formally recognize a longstanding parent-child relationship, including relationships involving stepparents or other family circumstances.

The procedure differs from adoption of a minor. Section 63.102 permits an adult adoption petition without first obtaining a separate judgment terminating parental rights.

  • Adoptee is 18 or older
  • Adult adoptee's consent is central to the proceeding
  • Separate TPR judgment generally is not required first
  • Final court approval is still required

Adult Adoption Is Not Limited to Childhood Placements

It can provide legal recognition of a family relationship that developed long before the adoption petition was filed.

Consent & Notice

Whose Consent Is Required for a Florida Adoption?

Consent is one of the most important legal issues in an adoption and should be evaluated under the specific provisions of Chapter 63.

Legal Parents

Chapter 63 identifies the persons whose consent is required depending on the circumstances of the child, parentage and proposed adoption.

§63.062 →

The Adoptee

Florida law also addresses consent by the person being adopted in circumstances specified by Chapter 63.

Consent May Not Always Be Required

Florida §63.064 identifies circumstances in which consent otherwise required for an adoption may be waived.

§63.064 →

Adoption Consent Rules Depend on the Circumstances

Florida §63.082 contains detailed rules concerning execution and revocation of adoption consents. The applicable rule depends on the circumstances, including the age of the child and the type of consent.

Florida Statute §63.082 →
Parental Rights & Adoption

When Parental Rights Must Be Resolved Before Adoption

Many adoptions involving a minor require the legal rights of existing parents to be resolved before the adoption can be finalized.

Under §63.102, an ordinary adoption petition generally follows entry of a judgment terminating parental rights. Adult, stepparent and relative adoptions are specifically treated differently by that statute.

In adoption cases, termination may occur through valid consent or through a termination proceeding when another statutory basis is alleged and established.

Dedicated TPR Resource

Termination of Parental Rights Is a Separate Legal Issue

When termination itself is disputed, the case can require a separate legal analysis concerning consent, abandonment, notice, service and the statutory grounds for termination.

Termination of Parental Rights →
Contested Adoption Issues

When an Adoption Is Not Uncontested

Some adoption proceedings involve disputed parental rights, consent, notice, paternity or abandonment allegations.

Disputed Consent

The parties may disagree about whether consent was required, properly executed or legally effective.

Parentage & Notice

Questions concerning legal parentage, unmarried biological fathers, notice and the Florida Putative Father Registry may affect the proceeding.

Abandonment Allegations

A petitioner may allege abandonment as a legal basis for proceeding without consent. Such allegations require evidence satisfying the applicable statutory standard.

Termination Pending Adoption Has Its Own Procedure

Florida §§63.087 through 63.089 address termination of parental rights pending adoption, including jurisdiction, notice, service, hearings and grounds for judgment.

Florida Statute §63.087 →
The Adoption Process

From Initial Review to Final Judgment

The precise steps vary by adoption type, but a Florida adoption often involves several core stages.

1

Legal Assessment

Identify the type of adoption and legal requirements.

2

Consent & Parentage

Determine whose consent, notice or parental-rights resolution is required.

3

Required Documentation

Prepare the petition and supporting statutory filings.

4

Court Process

Address hearings, investigations or other requirements applicable to the case.

5

Final Adoption

Obtain the final judgment establishing the adoptive relationship.

Final Judgment

What Happens When the Adoption Is Finalized?

A final adoption judgment creates a legally recognized parent-child relationship.

Florida §63.172 addresses the legal effect of a judgment of adoption. The judgment can affect legal parentage and rights flowing from the parent-child relationship.

After finalization, additional administrative steps may also be available, including issuance of an amended birth record when applicable.

Florida Statute §63.172 →

Adoption Records Are Generally Confidential

Chapter 63 contains confidentiality protections for adoption proceedings and records. Access and disclosure are governed by the applicable statutes and court rules.

One Legal Team

A Full-Service Law Firm Behind Your Adoption

An adoption can intersect with parental rights, guardianship, estate planning, probate, family law and other legal issues.

St. Johns Law Group brings attorneys across multiple practice areas together when those related issues need attention.

  • Family Law — adoption, parenting and parental-rights issues
  • Guardianship — alternative family-care arrangements
  • Estate Planning — planning after the family relationship changes
  • Probate — inheritance and estate issues when relevant
  • Civil Litigation — contested proceedings and evidence
  • Appeals — appellate resources when appropriate
St. Johns Law Group attorneys supporting Florida adoption clients in St. Augustine and Northeast Florida
One Legal Team Adoption counsel supported by the resources of a full-service St. Augustine law firm.
Family Law Center

Related Family Law Services

Divorce & Family Law

Comprehensive Florida family-law representation.

Family Law Center →

Termination of Parental Rights

Representation in disputed parental-rights and termination proceedings.

TPR Services →

Parenting & Time-Sharing

Parenting plans, parental responsibility and time-sharing disputes.

Parenting Services →

Guardian ad Litem

Guardian ad Litem services and representation in child-related cases.

Guardian ad Litem →

Post-Judgment Modification

Parenting and support modifications after final judgment.

Modification Services →

Family Mediation

Family-law mediation for appropriate disputes and settlement issues.

Family Mediation →
Family Law & Mediation Team

Meet the Family Law Team

Our family-law attorneys are supported by senior paralegals and a dedicated mediation coordinator, creating a team-based approach for adoption, parenting, parental-rights and related family-law matters.

Rachael W. Greene St. Augustine family law attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator
Family Law Attorney • Certified Mediator • Guardian ad Litem

Rachael W. Greene

Family-law attorney handling adoption, parenting, parental-rights, Guardian ad Litem and mediation matters.

View Profile →
Felecia Walker St. Augustine family law probate and guardianship attorney
Family Law • Probate • Guardianship Attorney

Felecia Walker

Experienced advocate handling family-law, guardianship, probate and related contested proceedings.

View Profile →
Becky Ferris St. Johns Law Group Senior Paralegal and Mediation Coordinator
Senior Paralegal • Mediation Coordinator

Becky Ferris

Supports the family-law practice and coordinates case logistics and mediation scheduling.

(904) 907-2562 Direct rferris@sjlawgroup.com
Morris McEvoy St. Johns Law Group Senior Family Law Paralegal
Senior Paralegal • Family Law

Morris McEvoy

Supports family-law attorneys with document preparation, client coordination, discovery and litigation support.

(904) 516-0715 Direct mmcevoy@sjlawgroup.com
40+ Years Combined family law experience of Rachael Greene & Felecia Walker
Full-Service Team Family law • Guardianship • Probate • Estate Planning
Florida Adoption FAQs

Common Questions About Adoption in Florida

Who can adopt in Florida?
Florida §63.042 permits adoption by a husband and wife jointly, an unmarried adult, and in certain circumstances a married person without the other spouse joining. Both minors and adults may be adopted.
Can a stepparent adopt a stepchild in Florida?
Yes. Florida law provides a specific pathway for stepparent adoption. The legal status and consent of the child's other parent must be addressed as part of the process.
Can a relative adopt a child in Florida?
Yes. Florida Chapter 63 recognizes relative adoptions and provides special treatment for qualifying relative petitioners in parts of the adoption process.
Can an adult be adopted in Florida?
Yes. Section 63.042 expressly provides that an adult may be adopted. Adult adoption has procedural differences from adoption of a minor.
Does an adult adoption require termination of the biological parents' rights first?
Section 63.102 permits an adult adoption petition without first entering a separate judgment terminating parental rights.
Does a stepparent adoption require termination of the other parent's rights?
The parental-rights status of the other legal parent must be resolved. That may occur through legally valid consent or through another basis authorized by Chapter 63 when the statutory requirements are satisfied.
Can a parent simply refuse to consent and prevent every adoption?
Not necessarily. Chapter 63 identifies circumstances in which consent may be waived or parental rights may be terminated pending adoption. The result depends on the specific facts and statutory requirements.
Can an adoption consent be revoked?
Florida §63.082 contains detailed rules regarding execution and revocation of adoption consents. The applicable rule depends on the circumstances, including the age of the child and timing of the consent.
Is a home study always required?
Florida adoption law contains different investigation and study requirements depending on the type of adoption. Stepparent, relative and adult adoptions can receive different treatment from other placements.
Are Florida adoption records public?
Adoption proceedings and records are subject to confidentiality protections under Chapter 63. Access is governed by the applicable statutes and court procedures.
How long does a Florida adoption take?
Timing varies considerably based on the type of adoption, whether all required consents are available, whether parental rights are disputed, and the court's procedural requirements.
Recent Legal Insights

Recent Family Law Articles

Recent St. Johns Law Group resources concerning Florida adoption, parenting, parental rights and related family-law issues.

View All Family Law Articles
Northeast Florida Adoption Counsel

Areas We Serve

St. Johns Law Group assists clients with Florida adoption and related family-law matters throughout St. Augustine and Northeast Florida.

St. Johns County

St. Augustine • St. Augustine Beach • Ponte Vedra • Ponte Vedra Beach • Nocatee • SilverLeaf • St. Johns • Julington Creek • Fruit Cove • World Golf Village

Jacksonville & Duval County

Jacksonville • Mandarin • San Marco • Southside • Jacksonville Beach and surrounding communities

Flagler, Clay & Putnam Counties

Palm Coast • Flagler Beach • Green Cove Springs • Fleming Island • Palatka and surrounding Northeast Florida communities

St. Johns Law Group adoption attorneys office in St. Augustine Florida
St. Johns Law Group 104 Sea Grove Main Street • St. Augustine, Florida
Local St. Augustine Office

Florida Adoption Counsel Based in St. Augustine

Our family-law team helps families navigate stepparent, relative, adult and other Florida adoption proceedings.

  • 104 Sea Grove Main Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32080
  • Adoption and family-law services throughout Northeast Florida
  • In-person, telephone and remote consultation options
Adoption Attorney Consultation

Talk With a St. Augustine Adoption Attorney

Tell us about the adoption you are considering and the current legal relationship between the child, prospective adoptive parent and existing legal parents. Our family-law team can help identify the appropriate Florida adoption process.

  • ✓ Stepparent and relative adoptions
  • ✓ Adult adoptions
  • ✓ Consent and parental-rights issues
Call (904) 495-0400 Email Our Team

How Can We Help You?

Complete the secure intake form below and a member of our team can review your adoption inquiry.

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