Most people know that Florida is only 1 of 2 states in the country that does not allow homosexuals to adopt. Many people who are in committed same-sex relationships come to my practice in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, from surrounding counties such as Clay, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns to…
As a Jacksonville, Florida family law attorney, I have many inquiries regarding adoptions. Recently, the interest in adoptions seems to be growing, possibly due to celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Madonna. Their adoptions have made national news more than once. However, in a struggling economy, I was curious about how…
Stepparent adoption is common in Jacksonville, Florida, where we, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. is located. Florida recognizes adoption by a stepparent to be commonplace and tries to make the process easy on all parties. Consent of the nonparticipating parent is the best way to gain adoption rights of the…
The Florida Supreme Court will be deciding the issue of whether the 2008->Ch0063->Section%20042#0063.042 target=”_blank”>Florida Constitutional provision stating that gays and lesbians and transgendered people in the State of Florida cannot adopt is constitutional. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge, Cindy Lederman, has ruled that the law declaring that homosexuals in Florida cannot adopt…
Florida Adoptions are governed by Chapter 63 of the Florida Statutes. In Jacksonville and surrounding areas, the court will look to Chapter 63 in handling the many areas of adoption that arise. The different types of adoptions are the following: 1. Private adoptions 2. Step-parent adoptions 3. Grandparent adoptions 4.…
In Florida, the Department of Children and Families (DCF)is designed to protect children. The goal is not to shatter the home, but to protect the safety and welfare of the children. In its protective role, DCF can act in more of a prosecutorial manner and rather than seeing an incident…
We hear about teen pregancies from Florida to California all of the time. Ranging from politicians to pop stars, the issue seems to be a constant in our lives. Sarah Palin’s daughter was 17 years old and pregnant, Jamie Lynn Spears was 16 and pregnant, and most likely your Florida…
A Florida Circuit Court Judge has ruled that a 31 year old ban on gay adoptions is unconstitutional. The Judge allowed the adoption of a openly gay foster parent of a teenage boy that she had raised since 2001. The case was reported in the Miami Herald. The Judge noted…