(1) Any person, a minor or an adult, may be adopted.
(2) The following persons may adopt:
(a) A husband and wife jointly;
(b) An unmarried adult; or
(c) A married person without the other spouse joining as a petitioner, if the person to be adopted is not his or her spouse, and if:
1. The other spouse is a parent of the person to be adopted and consents to the adoption; or
2. The failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption is excused by the court for good cause shown or in the best interest of the child.
(3) No person eligible under this section shall be prohibited from adopting solely because such person possesses a physical disability or handicap, unless it is determined by the court or adoption entity that such disability or handicap renders such person incapable of serving as an effective parent.
(4) No person eligible under this section shall be prohibited from adopting solely because he or she desires to educate the adopted child at home.
History.—s. 4, ch. 73-159; s. 1, ch. 77-140; s. 1, ch. 80-194; s. 4, ch. 92-96; s. 336, ch. 95-147; s. 4, ch. 2003-58; s. 2, ch. 2015-130.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure
63.039 - Duty of Adoption Entity to Prospective Adoptive Parents; Sanctions.
63.042 - Who May Be Adopted; Who May Adopt.
63.0422 - Prohibited Conditions on Adoptions; Firearms and Ammunition.
63.0423 - Procedures With Respect to Surrendered Infants.
63.0425 - Grandparent’s Right to Notice.
63.043 - Mandatory Screening or Testing for Sickle-Cell Trait Prohibited.
63.052 - Guardians Designated; Proof of Commitment.
63.053 - Rights and Responsibilities of an Unmarried Biological Father; Legislative Findings.
63.0541 - Public Records Exemption for the Florida Putative Father Registry.
63.062 - Persons Required to Consent to Adoption; Affidavit of Nonpaternity; Waiver of Venue.
63.064 - Persons Whose Consent to an Adoption May Be Waived.
63.085 - Disclosure by Adoption Entity.
63.087 - Proceeding to Terminate Parental Rights Pending Adoption; General Provisions.
63.093 - Adoption of Children From the Child Welfare System.
63.112 - Petition for Adoption; Description; Report or Recommendation, Exceptions; Mailing.
63.122 - Notice of Hearing on Petition.
63.125 - Final Home Investigation.
63.132 - Affidavit of Expenses and Receipts.
63.135 - Information to Be Submitted to the Court.
63.142 - Hearing; Judgment of Adoption.
63.152 - Application for New Birth Record.
63.162 - Hearings and Records in Adoption Proceedings; Confidential Nature.
63.165 - State Registry of Adoption Information; Duty to Inform and Explain.
63.167 - State Adoption Information Center.
63.172 - Effect of Judgment of Adoption.
63.192 - Recognition of Foreign Judgment or Decree Affecting Adoption.
63.202 - Authority to License; Adoption of Rules.
63.207 - Out-of-State Placement.
63.212 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties for Violation.
63.213 - Preplanned Adoption Agreement.
63.222 - Effect on Prior Adoption Proceedings.
63.232 - Duty of Person Adopting.
63.2325 - Conditions for Invalidation of a Consent to Adoption or Affidavit of Nonpaternity.
63.233 - Rulemaking Authority.
63.235 - Petitions Filed Before Effective Date; Governing Law.
63.236 - Petitions Filed Before July 1, 2008; Governing Law.