FLORIDA ADOPTION AGENCY — HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADOPTION AGENCY —HEART TO HEART ADOPTIONS
How to Choose an Adoption Agency in Florida?
Not all Florida adoption agencies are the same. There are some specific things you should look for. There are also certain things that you should walk away from.
A legitimate Florida adoption agency is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families under Florida Statute Chapter 63 and provides all services at no cost to the birth mother.
The right agency will provide someone to help you at any hour of the day or night. The right agency will give you the chance to choose your baby’s adoptive family. The right agency will allow you to have your own lawyer that will cost you nothing.
What are Adoption Agency Red Flags?
Red flags include agencies that ask you to pay fees, pressure you toward a specific family, or discourage you from consulting an independent attorney.
Heart to Heart Adoptions is a licensed nonprofit (FL License #100033775) and has served Florida birth mothers for more than 25 years.
What considerations are there when deciding on an adoption agency?
What should I look for in a Florida adoption agency?
- Florida Department of Children and Families license. Verify the license number before you commit
- Nonprofit status. Profits should not be a factor in how your case is handled
- Free services for birth mothers. You should never pay anything, ever
- Your right to choose the adoptive family. This is non-negotiable
- Free independent legal counsel before signing any paperwork
- Post-placement support. The agency should not disappear after the adoption is finalized
- A track record in Florida.
What questions should I ask a Florida adoption agency?
- Are you licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families? What is your license number?
- Are you a nonprofit?
- Is everything free for me as the birth mother? Including legal services?
- Will I have a dedicated case manager, or will I work with whoever is available?
- Can I reach someone at 2 AM if I need to?
- Can I choose the adoptive family myself?
- Do you provide independent legal counsel for me before I sign anything?
- What post-placement support do you offer?
- How long have you been serving birth mothers in Florida?
What are red flags when choosing a Florida adoption agency?
- Any agency that asks you to pay fees. Adoption should absolutely be free for you. Don’t ever feel you need to pay anything.
- Pressure toward a specific adoptive family before you have had time to review profiles
- Discouraging you from consulting an independent attorney
- Never having a dedicated case manager. Just getting whoever rotates in or happens to answer the phone or your text.
- Vague or evasive answers about license status or nonprofit status.
- No clear post-placement support plan.
What makes Heart to Heart Adoptions different in Florida?
- Licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families — License #100033775
- Nonprofit 501(c)(3). No profit motive in any part of your case
- Free for birth mothers. Never ever hidden costs.
- Dedicated case manager. Haley, Sharyn, Jodi, Alyssa, Kathy, are available to you.
- So many approved family profiles to choose from and if you can’t find what you want, we will go to another agency and look at their vetted families.
- Free independent legal counsel before signing anything
- Post-placement counseling that does not end at finalization
- More than 25 years serving Florida birth mothers.
Is it okay to talk to more than one adoption agency?
Yes. Heart to Heart adoptions actually encourages you to call other agencies so you feel good about the decisions you are making. Call several agencies if you want. Ask them all the same questions. A good agency is run by people who really want the best for you and if the best for you is another agency or a different situation, these people want that for you.
What is the difference between a licensed agency and an adoption attorney?
An adoption agency that holds a Florida license like Heart to Heart Adoptions provides services such as counseling, matching you with the perfect adoptive family, management of what should happen next, financial support, and making sure you are provided with legal counsel of your own.
“I checked out three agencies before choosing Heart to Heart. They were the only ones who didn’t rush me and really listened to what I wanted for my baby.”
— Brianna, Fort Myers, Florida
In-Depth Guide
Explore each topic in more detail.
How do I know if an adoption agency is licensed in Florida?
Ask for their Florida Department of Children and Families license number and verify it. Heart to Heart’s Florida license number is #100033775.
Should I use a local Florida agency or a national agency?
A local Florida agency with a physical Florida office and Florida-based counselors understands the state’s specific legal requirements and has relationships with Florida hospitals, courts, and attorneys. National agencies with call centers can miss local nuance. Heart to Heart’s Florida office is in Gainesville with statewide coverage.
Is Heart to Heart Adoptions a nonprofit?
Yes. Heart to Heart Adoptions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit adoption agency. Our focus is the people we serve, not agency profit.
What if I am unhappy with my case manager?
You can request a different case manager. Heart to Heart’s goal is for you to have a relationship that feels safe and right. If it is not working, we want to fix it.
Can I choose Heart to Heart if I live in a different state but want my baby adopted by a Florida family?
Yes. Heart to Heart has approved families across the country. You are not limited to Florida families when you choose your baby’s adoptive family.
Does Heart to Heart place babies with families outside Florida?
Yes. Heart to Heart has approved families across the country. You are not limited to Florida families when you choose your baby’s adoptive family.
What happens if I am not happy with any of the family profiles?
Heart to Heart will keep looking. There is no deadline and no pressure to choose quickly. If the right family is not in the current pool, your counselor will continue working to find them.
Is Heart to Heart's adoption process faster or slower than other agencies?
The timeline is determined by you, not by the agency. Heart to Heart can move as quickly as a same-day stork situation or as slowly as you need over months of decision-making.
We're Here for You
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to talk, our compassionate team is here to listen and support you—without pressure or judgment.
You don't have to do this alone.
We're here to walk beside you—every step of the way.
Call or Text Anytime
801-563-1000
Last Reviewed:
