"My teenage sister was pregnant and decided on adoption. Ellen provided encouragement and guidance and took great care finding just the right adoptive parents. My sister gets to hear how her baby is doing and she is very happy with her choice. I hope less people choose abortion and instead, seek adoption service like Ellen Kaplan provides."
Anonymous
"My name is Danyelle and I would recommend Ellen Kaplan to anyone in the world, I could never have asked for better supportive friends thru my double experience of going thru adoption and I look forward to helping any mothers thru this decision I love each and everyone of the women that work for her and with her."
Danyelle
"Ellen, Lynn, Jim, and Maggie were there for me every step of the way. My case was complicated and time consuming but Ms.Kaplan fought for my rights and my precious baby is now prospering and growing with her loving adoptive parents. Thank you to Kaplan and her staff forever!"
Anonymous Birth Mother
"Hey Maggy! Hope you are doing well was just writing because I was thinking of you. I just got my first set of pictures and a letter. I can’t believe how much my baby has grown. He looks so healthy and happy. I love that I chose this couple for him. I can never stop thanking you. I keep thinking of how nice you were to me. Ellen, your office is great and showed me a lot of care when I really needed it."
Jackie
"I was writing to you to thank you for being by my side and for everything you have done for me. For all the help your office has given me. Thank you so much for taking my calls and texts at crazy hours of the night, LOL! I really needed someone I can talk to and someone that would just be there for me and listen and understand me. Maggy, you were that person. I wanted to thank Ellen and Lynn for all that they have done as well. I am happy my baby girl is with such a wonderful family! She is going to be so loved. I look forward to my pictures and letters. Please stay in touch."
Britany
"Thank you for the understanding compassion and love you show me and have showed me throughout the process of my adoption plan. Throughout my pregnancy and for being by my side at the hospital every moment. That really meant a lot to me. I’m not going to lie, at one point I thought I wasn’t sure I could go through with it. There’s no way I could take him home. I knew I had to put the needs of my baby before the wants of my own like the quote your office uses. The adoptive parents I chose will be wonderful parents and I find comfort in that. Thank you for the comfort and the talk you gave me at the hospital, for the love you all showed me and my kids. We love you. Hugs and love,"
Tiffany
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you’ve been doing and have done. I really appreciate you being able to do what you do on a daily basis. I know it’s hard on you as well. I have been very moody lately and you have patiently dealt and supported me. Thank you for being by my side and for all the support you have showed me without any bias and for not judging me. For listening and giving me great advice just wanted to say thank you and how much I really appreciate you."
Dominique
Adoption is a glorious way to begin or add to a family. You know this because you are wanting to become adoptive parents. What you may not know is it can be a complicated legal process, requiring an adoption expert to provide knowledgeable guidance and counsel irrespective of the type of adoption you are pursuing.
Become an Adoptive Parent
The decision to adopt a child is one of the most rewarding, exciting and fulfilling moments for any family. An important step is creating your “Adoption Profile,” telling your story to birth mothers who want to know why they should select your family to adopt their baby. It’s a sad reality that there are far more adoptive parents than available children so it’s critical that your profile stands out. We can guide you through this important process helping you create a powerful and persuasive story.
Florida Adoptions may be handled by either a licensed child-placing agency (agency adoption) or by a private attorney or intermediary (private placement adoption). Ellen M. Kaplan Adoptions and Family Law, P.A. provides private placement adoption services which, upon match with an expectant mother and unlike an agency adoption, represents you, the adopting parent throughout the legal proceedings. No matter which type of adoption you are pursuing, whether through an agency or private placement adoption attorney, proper legal advice is essential
There are many good books on adoption as well as adoption related websites that provide general information on the adoption process. You will also learn about Adoptions in Florida, Florida Adoption Law and our office procedures during your initial consultation.
After your initial interview and consultation, we will help create your Adoption Profile Book comprising non-identifying information such as your age, income, occupation, education, religion, length of time married, whether you already have children, hobbies and interests, and pictures to share with expectant birth parents. It is very important the pictures reflect your life and lifestyle, family, home, activities and hobbies, vacations and family outings, pets. In short, pictures showing you and your family living and enjoying life. Birth mothers/parents want to know everything about you and see a happy, loving, stable home. You are asking them to entrust their child to your permanent care; they deserve nothing less.
Prior to the baby being placed in your home, you must have a favorable home study completed by a licensed home study provider in the state where you reside. If the home study is not favorable, we cannot proceed with placement. We would be more than happy to give you a recommendation for a licensed home study provider in your area.
After Birth, the Baby will be Placed in your Home following Execution of Final Consents for Adoption and Hospital Discharge
If you reside outside the State of Florida, you must remain in Florida with the child until Interstate Compact in both Florida and your home state approve the placement (approximately 10-14 days). Following placement, we begin proceedings to terminate the parental rights of the birth parent(s). During this time, your home study provider will provide the required post-placement supervision for a period of 90 days. After 90 days, if the court has terminated the parental rights of the birth parent(s) and your home study provider has issued a favorable recommendation, we proceed with finalizing your adoption.
Final hearing on your adoption takes about 10 minutes and you and the baby are required to attend. (If you reside outside the State of Florida we will ask the court’s permission for you to attend the hearing via Zoom to avoid travel back to Florida for the proceeding.) Once the adoption is finalized, the baby’s original birth record will be sealed and an amended birth certificate issued reflecting you as the child’s legal parents
Birth mothers who contact our office are shown profiles of Hopeful Adoptive Parents and get the opportunity to select the adoptive parents (t) they feel are/is the best match for them and their child. Since the expectant birth mother or birth parents select the family, we cannot guarantee you will be selected or matched, nor can provide an estimate of how long the selection process will take. Some families may be profiled for a month or two, while others may be profiled for a year or more. The timeline is entirely dependent on whether the birth mother/parents believe your family is the right match and the time required to decide.
Adoptions vary in cost due to the legal services required to complete the adoption as well as the medical and living necessities of the birth mother. Most of our adoptions range from $18,000.00 to approximately $42,000.00. Birth mothers contacting our office are oftentimes in a crisis situation and need immediate help (facing eviction, little or no food, utilities shut off, car repossession, etc.). If we are unable to aid within a day or two, the birth mother will most likely go to another source for help. It is critically important that when we reach out about a prospective match that you can make a quick decision and have the resources to help with immediate needs. Under Florida law, the prospective adoptive parents may assist the birth mother with reasonable living and medical expenses incurred during the pregnancy and for up to six weeks following delivery. Reasonable living expenses are considered rent, food, utilities, transportation, and clothing. Most birth mothers need some type of financial assistance. Additionally, most birth mothers do not have private medical insurance. If she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, you may be responsible for her prenatal care, hospitalization, and delivery costs.
“When I am with an expecting mother, I am there for her from the moment she calls and provide her with personal guidance and emotional support. I am non-judgmental no matter what or how heavy the situation may be. I get to know her personally and always try and develop a genuine close relationship with her. I give all of my expectant/birth mothers the respect and support they deserve during what can be a difficult time in their lives. You can count on me to be there for you throughout the entire experience and beyond.”
-Maggy, Adoption Case Manager
Adoption Support Services