Each year, it’s estimated that over 100,000 children are adopted in the United States. There are many different contexts surrounding adoptions. One of the common ones is for close family members to adopt the child from the parents with their consent (or without it if they abandoned the child).

While this is common with grandparents, it might also be a relevant choice for aunts, uncles, and even siblings. If you’re an aunt or uncle interested in adoption, you’re likely asking yourself, can I adopt my niece or nephew?

In this guide, we’ll answer this question so you can create an adoption plan that works for your specific needs.

Can I Adopt My Niece or Nephew?

The answer is yes, you can adopt your niece or nephew in the state of Florida. This is thanks to the Florida statutes laid out in Chapter 63 adoption laws. In fact, in many cases, specialists do their best to keep children with their original family if the parents aren’t an option.

So in some cases, these types of adoptions can be both quicker and less expensive than traditional ones that don’t involve a direct family. Ultimately, the ease of the adoption will depend on the parents.

If the parents are around and one or both of them sign adoption consent papers, the process will usually only take a few months.

However, if they refuse to sign the consent papers, you will need to prove either emotional or financial abandonment. While this certainly isn’t impossible, it will complicate and drag out the adoption process.

What Are the Requirements for Adoption?

To adopt a child in Florida, you must be at least twenty-one years old. What’s more, you need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable.

Proof of financial stability is also important because specialists want to make sure you can provide for your niece or nephew.

Lastly, you will need to pass requirements including a criminal background check, home inspections, and any home study requirements.

How to Begin the Adoption Process

To begin the adoption process, the first thing you should do is reach out to a qualified adoption agency. As we mentioned, cases that involve adopting a family member are typically more straightforward than others.

However, they still require the proper forms and home studies, which the agency can help you with. If the parents don’t consent, you’ll also need their help to prove abandonment either financially or emotionally.

Reviews will tell you a lot when looking for an adoption agency, so we recommend starting there.

Then, once you have a few good options, you can start reaching out to people. Check out this guide for finding a good adoption agency.

Need Adoption Help? Contact Heart of Adoptions

We hope this guide helped you answer the question, “Can I adopt my niece or nephew?”. As you can see, this typically is a possibility as long as you find the right adoption service.

Here at Heart of Adoptions, we know that every adoption situation is unique. That’s why we bring a level of flexibility that many agencies lack.

So if you’re ready for the personalized adoption advice that you deserve, get in touch with us today.