Open Adoption Options in Florida

Open Adoption Options in Florida

Letters and photos, video calls, or in-person visits — you decide how much contact you want after placement.

Open adoption in Florida means you and the adoptive family agree to stay in contact after placement — through letters, photos, calls, or in-person visits.

The level of contact is decided by you before placement and can range from occasional photo updates to regular in-person visits.

Heart to Heart works specifically with adoptive families who are genuinely committed to honoring open adoption agreements.

In Florida, post-adoption contact agreements are legally permitted and can be made enforceable if incorporated into the final adoption order.

What is open adoption in Florida?

When you wonder if adoption is the answer for you, it's possible that you are also wondering if you can stay in touch with your baby after adoption. At Heart to Heart Adoptions' Florida office, we believe you should have choices about your adoption plan, including how much contact you want with your child.

"I was worried because I couldn't find my baby's father. Wendi helped me understand what I needed to do legally."

— Jasmine, Panama City, Florida

Open adoption means you and the adoptive family maintain some form of contact after placement. It is an agreement made before placement about how much connection you want to have as your child grows up. It does not mean you are co-parenting. It means your child grows up knowing you loved them, and you get updates about their life.

What is open adoption in Florida

Open Adoption

  • Regular letters and photos — typically two to four times per year minimum
  • Video calls on birthdays, holidays, or agreed milestones
  • In-person visits — frequency determined by agreement
  • Direct contact between birth mother and adoptive family

Semi-Open Adoption

  • Letters and photos exchanged through Heart to Heart Adoptions. This is not directly with the family.
  • No direct phone or video contact
  • Birth mother receives updates without direct relationship with adoptive family

Closed Adoption

  • No ongoing contact or information exchange after placement
  • Less common today. Heart to Heart will discuss whether this is truly right for you

How do I choose the level of contact that is right for me?

We will talk to you about every option and decide what matters to you. You will want to ask yourself questions such as:

  • Do you want to know how your child is doing as they grow?
  • Is in-person contact important to you?
  • How do you feel about the adoptive family having your direct contact information?

"I get pictures of my son at the beach, and almost weekly letters about how he's doing in school. I send him pictures of me and sometimes videos. We go through an app called Our Hearts Connect. I think when he's older and we get together, he won't be meeting a stranger. And I won't be meeting a stranger. I'm so happy about how this turned out."

— Birth mother, Tampa, FL

You're in a unique situation and your life is unique. We recognize that. so you need to be matched with a family who respects that uniqueness and whose willingness and desire for openness matches you and your desires.

Can I change the level of contact after the adoption is finalized?

Yes, by mutual agreement with the adoptive family. Formal changes to an incorporated court order require a legal process, but many families adjust contact naturally over time as relationships develop. Your counselor remains available to facilitate these conversations.

Will my child know they were adopted and who I am in open adoption?

In an open adoption, yes, your child will know you and everything you want to tell them about yourself and the reason for the adoption.

"I love that my daughter knows I chose adoption because I wanted the best for her. Her adoptive parents tell her I'm her first mommy who loved her so much I made sure she had the perfect family."

— Monica, Jacksonville, FL

What if the adoptive family stops honoring the open adoption agreement?

If the agreement was incorporated into the final adoption order, you have legal recourse. If it was not incorporated, enforcement is more difficult. This is the reason why Heart to Heart vets families specifically for their commitment before any match is made.

LEGAL NOTE: Florida Statute §63.0427: post-adoption contact agreements are permitted but enforceable only if incorporated into the final adoption order. Heart to Heart recommends requesting this for any contact terms the birth mother considers important. The legal note on enforceability must appear on this page — it is a trust signal and a genuine legal distinction women search for.

Heart to Heart also offers post-placement counseling and can act as a mediator if contact arrangements become strained. Our goal is to match you with a family where you will never need legal enforcement. We want every relationship to be

Frequently Asked Questions About Utah Adoption

Explore each topic in more detail.

In an open adoption, yes. You and the adoptive family agree on the level of contact before placement. This can include in-person visits, video calls, letters and photos, or any combination you agree on.

Semi-open adoption means contact is exchanged through the agency or a social worker rather than directly between you and the adoptive family. You receive letters and photos, but the adoptive family does not have your direct contact information

Research shows that children in open adoptions have healthier emotional outlook on life. This includes a stronger sense of identity, less confusion about their origins, and stronger emotional wellbeing. Heart to Heart Adoptions usually encourages openness. However, we have been involved with birth mothers and adopted children who are not interseted in an open adoption.

Research shows that children in open adoptions have healthier emotional outlook on life. This includes a stronger sense of identity, less confusion about their origins, and stronger emotional wellbeing. Heart to Heart Adoptions usually encourages openness. However, we have been involved with birth mothers and adopted children who are not interseted in an open adoption.

Yes. When you review family profiles, you will be able to see each family’s openness level and what they are comfortable with. Heart to Heart will match you with a family whose openness genuinely matches what you want.

Contact levels can be adjusted by mutual agreement with the adoptive family. Heart to Heart remains available to facilitate these conversations.

No. Open adoption is not co-parenting. The adoptive family is the legal parent. Open adoption means your child grows up knowing you and knowing they are loved by you — but parenting decisions belong to the adoptive family.

Only if incorporated into the final adoption order. Heart to Heart recommends requesting this if contact is important to you. Your independent attorney will advise you.

Open adoption agreements travel with the adoption. If the agreement is incorporated into the order, it remains legally in force regardless of where the family lives. Heart to Heart maintains contact with adoptive families long-term.

No. Closed and semi-open adoptions are available. Heart to Heart will help you think through what is right for you. There is no pressure to choose one or the other.

It varies by family agreement. A common pattern: photos and a letter at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, then annually. Video calls on birthdays. In-person visits once or twice a year as the child grows. Every agreement is personal and unique.

Birth mother choosing an adoptive family

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Medical and clinical content by

Allie James

Senior Content Editor · Heart to Heart Adoptions

Reviewed by licensed professionals at Heart to Heart Adoptions:

Julie Glenn

Chief Information Officer

Last Reviewed
2026