Creating families since 1997
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY
Pregnant? You have options
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY
Considering surrogacy?
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY
Creating families since 1997
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY
Pregnant? You have options
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY
Considering surrogacy?
I’m PREGNANTAdopt A childSURROGACY

Florida Adoption Attorneys specializing in Personalized Adoption and Surrogacy

Whether you are pregnant and considering your parenting options, hoping to adopt, or have experienced infertility, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. is prepared to assist you by providing personal attention and compassion to your case. Amy Hickman and Michelle Hausmann are board certified Florida Adoption Attorneys. With more than 25 years of experience in reproductive and adoption law, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. has the knowledge to provide exceptional legal guidance and representation in your adoption or surrogacy matter.

Families Ready To Adopt

Jenna & Ian
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Elly & Nate
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Catherine & Tim
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Flor & Marcos
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Claire & Allen
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Rebecca & Elliott
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Pat & Patty
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Katie & Scott
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Sandra & Ron
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Jenna & Ian

We are Jenna and Ian, from Florida! We’ve always dreamed of being parents and are excited to begin this journey. We know that your goal is finding the best possible home for your baby. We are thinking of you, as the birth mother, making this difficult decision. We are so thankful you are considering our family for your child. We hope our book gives you some insight into who we are, our daily lives, and helps you envision a safe and happy home for your child. We look forward to hearing from you once you read our story and who we are as good, kind, and a fun-loving couple.

Elly & Nate

Hello and thank you so much for considering Elly, Violet, and Nate as an adoptive family.  We have been married for 15 years, together for 20 years and have one 7 year old daughter, Violet.  Our greatest joy and aspiration in life has been being parents, and feel strongly called to grow our family through adoption.  We can’t imagine how difficult the decision to place your child with an adoptive family must have been, however our promise to you is that we will do all in our power to provide a stable and loving environment so that your child will thrive.  He or She will always know love and understand the sacrifice you’ve made for Him or Her.

Catherine & Tim

Hi! Thank you for considering us as your adoptive parents.

We are Catherine & Tim. We have been together for 13 years and married for 10 years. We are a fun, loving, hard working couple. Catherine is in sales and Tim is an attorney.

We struggled with infertility for 5 years.  After that experience, we did not know much about adoption, but we wanted to learn.  We now have a much better and deeper appreciation for the journey of a birthmother, and we would love to bring a child into our home through adoption.

We are a very active couple. We love to travel, hike, explore nature, attend sporting events, and hangout with our friends. Catherine is an avid runner and reader. Tim loves to go to the gym and watch sports. We have a niece and nephew and our families are very excited for us to expand our our own little family.

If you choose us, your child will always know their story, where they came from, and how much they are loved by you. We also commit to you that we will raise your child in a loving home, full of adventures, activities, stories, and hugs.

We are here to support you as much as you would like us to do so during this time.

Flor & Marcos

Hi! Today we would like to tell you our story. We’d like that, for a few minutes, you get to know our universe, get to know who we are, and a little about our life.

One of our major dreams is to become parents and we hope that through adoption, our dream will come true.

We met almost 10 years ago, we have been married for 7. A great friend in common introduced us, he knew that the magic, the love and the connection between us was going to be instantaneous, and it was.

We were born in Argentina, and for almost 6 years we have lived in Miami, we speak English and Spanish. Both languages ​​are constantly embracing our lives.

We are blessed to be surrounded by great friends and family who visit us constantly.

Our house has the love of 3 Golden Retrievers, Merlin (5), Allegra (3) and Eros (2), they are good, affectionate and playful. Our house is big, they have their own room and garden area exclusively for them.

We are really happy with the decision of adopting a child. We believe it’s a great act of love and respect for life.

You will always be an especially important person in their life, because not only have you brought them into the world, but also have given them the possibility to live and have been extremely generous in granting us the possibility to be their family and to care for them. We will always talk to them about you and acknowledge your amazing act of love.

We’d like to provide the child with the best opportunities, love and respect. We are open to the possibility of the child having an open adoption with you depending on your wishes and what you are comfortable with.

Thank you for considering our family to be a part of your journey.

Flor & Marcos

Claire & Allen

We’re Allen and Claire, best friends and a loving family. We’d like to show you a little about our life and would love to get to know you as well. We’ve always known we wanted to have children and feel incredibly blessed to become parents through adoption. Claire’s sister is adopted and from a young age, she knew she wanted to adopt one day. Allen grew up closely with a cousin who was adopted as well.

Some of our most influential experiences have been serving with the local outreach committee at our church. We’ve met great friends and have an amazing support system in our community. Our family loves staying active and spending time outside whether exploring our city, discovering new restaurants, taking walks in our neighborhood, or throwing the ball with our dog, Scotch, in the backyard. We also love cooking together and having family and friends over for dinner on the porch.

As foster parents, we were blessed to love and share our life with precious children before they returned to their families. We’re ready to adopt and find the child meant to be a part of our lives forever. We’re humbled by your steadfast love and that you’d consider sharing your gift of life with us. We know we can’t fully understand the pain and difficulty of being in your shoes right now, but want you to know that you’re seen, valued, and loved. We’re praying for you and hoping you find genuine comfort and peace as you continue this journey, wherever it takes you.

Rebekah

Hi there!

Thank you for considering me as your adoptive parent!

Being an adopted child myself is what brought me on this journey to meet you! I have always known I wanted to adopt a child especially because I was.

This choice you are making will never be taken lightly. It will be honored and cherished. You and your child are true blessings. I know you are brave and beautiful, and I will make sure your child knows how really special you are.

I am so grateful that I have a connection with my birth mom, for what she did for me and how much she appreciates my adoptive parents. I respect her immensely. I want to be able to do the same for your child. I will give him or her all that I can with love, support, understanding. Hazel, my almost 7 year old, can’t wait to meet, hug, love and teach your child. She will be the most compassionate big sister.

I deeply believe that the very best gift you can give an adopted child is to be open with them from the very beginning. Your child will always feel like he/she belongs and being adopted was a gift between two amazing women, you and me.

Warmly,

Rebekah

Rebecca & Elliott

We are Elliott, Rebecca, and Ellie. We are a family created by adoption and love.

We want to share a little about our hearts and hopefully get to know yours one day soon.

Through this book, we hope that you can see our love of life and family and our genuine desire to be the best parents possible.

We adopted our daughter, Ellie, four years ago, so our family understands the importance of the decision you are considering.

If our family feels like home for your child, we would be blessed by your trust in us.

Whatever your choice may be, please know that we are thinking about you, praying for you, and support you as you seek what feels right for you and your baby.

With great love,

Rebecca & Elliott

Ruth

Thank you for taking a moment to get to know me! I think that adoption is a loving and courageous choice. I would like to share my story with you – why my desire is to adopt and to welcome a child in my life at this time. I’m ready and my heart is open!

I am a professor whose career has centered around assisting children with special needs and their families. I planned on having children after establishing my career and have always been open to adoption. After experiencing my own challenges with fertility, my desire to adopt has only grown. My experiences both personally and professionally have well prepared me to care, nurture, and raise a child. I look forward to providing a warm, loving, fun-filled home and a solid foundation for a bright, promising future. I have a large community and family—related and unrelated—who cannot wait to extend a warm welcome and shower a little one with love.

Thank you for taking a moment to review my profile. Wishing you kindness and peace as you weigh your decisions.

Warmly,

Ruth

Pat & Patty

Hi, we are Pat and Patty. We are very grateful you are considering adoption and viewing our profile. We will do our very best to paint a picture of our life, to help you imagine your child as a part of our family.
We were college sweethearts, and boast 26 years of friendship and 19 years of marriage. We count our blessings, laugh often, and try not to take ourselves too seriously. A stable home, with a loving couple that has an excellent track record of making sacrifices for the sake of their marriage and the good of the family, is what we have to offer a child.
May whatever you decide, bring you peace and comfort. If you choose to make an adoption plan with us, we promise to do all we can to support you.
-Pat & Patty

Katie & Scott

Hello and thank you for taking the time to view our adoption profile. We are Scott and Katie and we have been together for over 11 years and were married six years ago. We are active and love being outside, whether it be playing soccer or softball, hiking and camping, or just sitting on the porch. Our relationship is grounded in a strong friendship and deep love for and trust in one another.

Since early in our relationship, we’ve talked about building our family through adoption. We were overjoyed to welcome our first child, Morgan, through adoption in 2019. We love being parents and know that we can provide a supportive, fun, open, and loving home for our family. Our family and friends are incredibly supportive of our decision to adopt and are excited to welcome the newest addition to the family.

Scott is originally from the Philadelphia area and Katie is from Chicagoland, but we have lived in Washington, D.C. for over 11 years. Our community is a great place to raise a family. We look forward to welcoming another child into our family.

To learn more about us, please check out our attached profile.

Sandra & Ron

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We are grateful that you are considering us to raise the child that you are expecting and appreciate that you are considering this loving path. Please know that your child will have the brightest of futures with us.

Our seaside town is a unique place where it is truly ideal to raise a family and to grow up as a child. We believe in providing your child with every educational and developmental opportunity balanced with fun and variety. Our families are tight-knit and so supportive of our plans to adopt a second child.
Both future siblings will get to share this bond. And your child will immediately gain a lifelong, sweet-mannered, and energetic older brother! Our marriage is long enduring. Sandra is naturally maternal, joyful, and full of energy. A nurturer, she makes everyone feel special. Ron is gentle in nature and kind and patient.

He relishes playing endless games and reading books over and over again to a child’s content. Our immediate family is made up of Ron and Sandra and our two-year-old son who also joined our family through the beauty of adoption, and our sweet long haired lab. Our extended families live no more than 10 minutes away and that includes three darling cousins who are always ready to play. Our family members all have a playful spirit and a sense of adventure which makes travel, outdoor activities, and beach life a natural part of our lives. Our quiet seaside area remains charming and safe and very much home to both of us. Our home is close to great schools and nearby parks and Orlando parks are near.
We hope to share this quality of life if we have the opportunity. Thanks to the support that we have from our family and our community, we’ve been able to build a loving, welcoming, and lasting home. We offer your child the stability of our strong marriage and that we will be loving parents and providers.

Thank You Notes

Working with Michelle was an absolute pleasure. From the outset we knew she was working hard to find us the right birthmother. She was knowledgeable and patient when we needed guidance, reassuring and thoughtful when we were anxious, supportive and excited for us at all stages of our journey.

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We at A Step Ahead Adoption Services (ASA) have had the pleasure to work collaboratively with the wonderful attorneys and staff at Hausmann & Hickman Law. For over a decade, we have received consistent compliments and praise from our client families who have successfully adopted using the adoption services provided by Hausmann & Hickman. Their professionalism, ethical business practices and genuine care for expectant families (adoptive and birth) earns high marks from our client families.

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Dear Michelle, Amy and all of the amazing staff at Hausmann and Hickman, Thank you for this. The family here in this Christmas card means the world to me and it’s all thanks to you! Thank you for the work you do every single day, for that work has given us our family.

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We retained Amy after our adoption placement (made by another agency) became contested. Having no legal knowledge of how adoptions worked, it was a relief to have Amy walk us through every painful step. She worked diligently at times I would have never expected, including conducting depositions on her own daughter’s birthday and through the grieving of the sudden loss of her mother. Never once was there an excuse and she was always one step or more ahead of any opposition.

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We have worked with Michelle on our last two adoptions. We love Michelle and all of the staff. Communication and support is the best, and we can’t imagine adopting without them!

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My husband and I recently adopted our infant son this past February, and we could not have been in better hands than with the help of Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. Adoption is a very complicated and an involved process, and Michelle worked directly with my husband and I alongside our adoption agency each step of the way from placement all the way to our court finalization.

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Dear Michelle, Amy and all of the amazing staff at Hausmann and Hickman, Thank you so much for your help in our journey to become a family. Your sage wisdom and guidance was so helpful and we felt like we were in good hands every step of the way.

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We want to thank Michelle Hausmann and Amy Hickman for their efforts in bringing our son, Connor, into our lives. We are grateful for their professionalism and dedication in finding us the perfect birth mother to be paired with. From start to finish, they did an absolutely fantastic job.

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Hello my name is Alexa and I am a birthmother. I have done two placements, both with Hausmann and Hickman.  I am so grateful to the wonderful women at Hausmann and Hickman for all of their hard work. They were able to get me connected with the right families for both of my placements.

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My name is Danae and I was already a mother of 3 when I became pregnant again.  I wasn’t married and I didn’t know what I was going to do.  I only knew that I couldn’t have an abortion.  Shortly after meeting Michelle and doing all of the paperwork, she called and told me of a young couple who had tried for 8 years to get pregnant. I think I knew within the first ten minutes that the child I was carrying was meant to be theirs…they were so much in love, and I could just tell that they would be good parents.

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Hausmann & Hickman was a reliable and consistent resource that helped us navigate the most important decision of our life. They treated our family with complete respect & dignity. We will always be grateful for all they have done for our family.

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Working with Michelle was an absolute pleasure. From the outset we knew she was working hard to find us the right birthmother. She was knowledgeable and patient when we needed guidance, reassuring and thoughtful when we were anxious, supportive and excited for us at all stages of our journey. Our birthmother felt the same way. Michelle’s kindness and expertise helped all of us get through a sometimes difficult process with ultimate success. We highly recommend her.

– Kim & Josh, Adoptive Parents

We at A Step Ahead Adoption Services (ASA) have had the pleasure to work collaboratively with the wonderful attorneys and staff at Hausmann & Hickman Law. For over a decade, we have received consistent compliments and praise from our client families who have successfully adopted using the adoption services provided by Hausmann & Hickman. Their professionalism, ethical business practices and genuine care for expectant families (adoptive and birth) earns high marks from our client families. We look forward to our continued excellent working relationship.

Diane Hogan

Owner/President – A Step Ahead Adoption Services

Dear Michelle, Amy and all of the amazing staff at Hausmann and Hickman,

Thank you for this. The family here in this Christmas card means the world to me and it’s all thanks to you! Thank you for the work you do every single day, for that work has given us our family. Thank you for guiding these children home, thank you for these smiles, thank you for all these laughs, and thank you for these beautiful faces I get to wake up to every single day. I just wanted to let you know how grateful we are to have each other and how much we appreciate the work you have done for us and for every family you have touched. Wishing you all the very merriest Holiday season.

Love,
Josh, Tiffany & family

– Josh and Tiffany, Adoptive Parents

We retained Amy after our adoption placement (made by another agency) became contested. Having no legal knowledge of how adoptions worked, it was a relief to have Amy walk us through every painful step. She worked diligently at times I would have never expected, including conducting depositions on her own daughter’s birthday and through the grieving of the sudden loss of her mother. Never once was there an excuse and she was always one step or more ahead of any opposition. To say she is an expert in her field is an understatement! She would always make sure that we were “ok” mentally with the horrific ordeal we were facing and that she never expected us to take time away from our baby.  She never laughed at any of my husband’s absurd questions which was a huge plus. 

I am proud to say that we have made a friend for life by hiring Amy Hickman and would recommend her 100%. Our 16 month journey would not have been as tolerable without her. It was fate she was brought to our family. I honestly can say I miss talking with her every single day.

– Mark & Annette, Adoptive Parents Facing a Contested Adoption

We have worked with Michelle on our last two adoptions. We love Michelle and all of the staff. Communication and support is the best, and we can’t imagine adopting without them!

– Matthew and Jackie, Adoptive Parents

My husband and I recently adopted our infant son this past February, and we could not have been in better hands than with the help of Hausmann & Hickman, P.A.  Adoption is a very complicated and an involved process, and Michelle worked directly with my husband and I alongside our adoption agency each step of the way from placement all the way to our court finalization. Not only was the process seamless and well organized, Michelle was also extremely responsive to our concerns and questions through email, phone, and text.

Additionally, we selected to have an open adoption.  Not only did Hausmann & Hickman ensure our comfort through the adoption process, but we were extremely impressed with the care and sensitivity for our birth family, making sure their needs were met and making them feel as comfortable as possible during the time of placement. Rather than the placement being a sad and emotional time, it became a celebration of two families becoming one with a lasting connection through the common love of our son.

Since our adoption happened right before Covid19 exploded across the United States, we had some delays in our court finalization. However, Michelle was very understanding of our anxiety, and reassured us that everything was filed correctly, double checked, and was simply in the hands of the judge and state. Knowing Hausmann & Hickman was on top of our finalization and keeping tabs on our case was extremely comforting.  When our finalization finally came a couple of months later, it made us even more proud and undeniably happy to become officially recognized as our son’s parents.

We have a sincere sense of gratitude for Hausmann & Hickman for putting our minds at ease, walking us through all of the documentation, and basically holding our hands through it all. Every day we feel incredibly thankful for our son, the birth family who gave us such an incredible gift, our adoption agency, and the truly top notch and first class service through Michelle Hausmann and the staff at Hausmann & Hickman P.A.

– Kate & Mark, Adoptive Parents

Dear Michelle, Amy and all of the amazing staff at Hausmann and Hickman,

Thank you so much for your help in our journey to become a family. Your sage wisdom and guidance was so helpful and we felt like we were in good hands every step of the way. We can’t believe it has been a year and we are still head over heels for baby Jay. We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you and all you do!

– Jaclyn, Alan, and Baby Jay

We want to thank Michelle Hausmann and Amy Hickman for their efforts in bringing our son, Connor, into our lives. We are grateful for their professionalism and dedication in finding us the perfect birth mother to be paired with. From start to finish, they did an absolutely fantastic job. I highly recommend them for anyone looking to bring a new loved one into their family through adoption.

– Allison & Kendall, Adoptive Parents

Hello my name is Alexa and I am a birthmother. I have done two placements, both with Hausmann and Hickman.  I am so grateful to the wonderful women at Hausmann and Hickman for all of their hard work. They were able to get me connected with the right families for both of my placements.

– Alexa, a Birth Mother

My name is Danae and I was already a mother of 3 when I became pregnant again.  I wasn’t married and I didn’t know what I was going to do.  I only knew that I couldn’t have an abortion.  Shortly after meeting Michelle and doing all of the paperwork, she called and told me of a young couple who had tried for 8 years to get pregnant.

I think I knew within the first ten minutes that the child I was carrying was meant to be theirs…they were so much in love, and I could just tell that they would be good parents.  I was so happy to be having a baby for such loving people.  I couldn’t wait to have the baby just so I could give it to them and see their faces!

It has been nine months since Adam was born, and we still keep in touch.  I know we will always be a part of their life.  I will be able to find out how Adam is doing from a distance, and that’s just fine with me.

I did a good thing…yes, I did. And you can too.  This experience has been the greatest random act of kindness that I could ever do for somebody.  There’s no feeling like the one I had giving Adam to them, really.

– Danae, a Birth Mother

Hausmann & Hickman was a reliable and consistent resource that helped us navigate the most important decision of our life. They treated our family with complete respect & dignity. We will always be grateful for all they have done for our family.  We will remember Michelle Hausmann as our cornerstone of sanity throughout the process. They forever changed our lives!

– Ray & Jason, Adoptive Parents

Latest News & Blogs

What Should I Consider When Making an Adoption Plan?

Creating an adoption plan may seem overwhelming, but a thoughtful plan is vital to your peace of mind that your selected adoptive family aligns with your hopes and expectations for your child. A planned adoption process is designed to ensure that your child’s future is secure and that your child will grow up in a […]

Can I Make an Adoption Plan for My Baby After Birth?

If you are pregnant and considering placing your child for adoption, we are here to assist. As experts in Florida adoption law, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. can help you navigate the complexities of the adoption process, answer your questions and provide support and guidance along the way. When considering an adoption placement, parents frequently ask […]

Pregnant and Considering Adoption?

If you’re pregnant and considering placing your child for adoption, we are here to help. Though Hausmann & Hickman, P.A.’s private adoption placement program, you can find adoptive parents for your child and create your own personalized adoption plan. Through this plan you will be able to be matched with an adoptive family and we will help coordinate you meeting them. You may choose to exchange contact information and continue to communicate with them throughout your pregnancy and beyond. An adoption plan is personalized to fit your own unique desires for your child. Whether you are looking for pictures, letters, or even annual visits, we’re confident we can help you find the perfect family. Frequently adoptive parents and birth parents choose to have a “semi-open” adoption which allows a birth parent to learn personal information including the state in which the adoptive family lives, their ages, length of the marriage, employment, physical description, hobbies and interests, and religion. You may choose to meet the adoptive family, have them attend prenatal visits, or even have them present for delivery. In some cases, families select an open adoption, exchanging identifying information, and having annual visits.


Florida law allows the adoptive family to assist with your living expenses when needed. This may include rent, food, utilities, phone, maternity clothing, and transportation. Together we will develop a budget to help alleviate financial pressures during pregnancy and while you recover following delivery. The law also allows adoptive parents to pay for any pregnancy-related medical expenses which are not covered by health insurance or Medicaid.  Once the child is born, the adoptive parents are responsible for the baby’s expenses.


Deciding to place a baby for adoption can be difficult. We work with many experienced, caring independent counselors and can help you access mental health counseling to support you through your adoption journey. An important part of the adoption process is being fully informed about your legal rights and agreements. We will refer you to professional and supportive attorneys to represent you in the adoption process at no cost to you.


Under Florida law, you may only sign a consent to adoption after the child’s birth.  If you wish to place your child with the adoptive family directly from the hospital, the law imposes a waiting period of 48 hours following delivery, or the day of your discharge from the hospital, whichever occurs earlier. With your consent, the baby may be placed directly from the hospital with the adoptive family. The discharge of a healthy newborn is usually 48 hours following birth. You may choose to waive notice of the court proceedings, or you may choose to receive a notice and appear at the hearing for termination of parental rights, but your attendance at the hearing is not mandatory. If you place your child, under 6 months of age, for adoption with an adoptive family, and you properly signed an adoption consent, your consent cannot be revoked. If your child is over 6 months of age when you sign your consent, you have 3 days to revoke your consent. A court may set aside an adoption consent upon a finding that fraud or duress existed in the adoption.


If you are ready to move forward with an adoption plan or have additional questions, please contact our office.

Florida Adoption – Baby Adoption in Florida


The attorneys at Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. have been helping adoptive parents grow their families for over 25 years through baby adoption in Florida. We strive to make the process of adopting a child as smooth as possible.


Each adoption begins with an application and personal consultation with one of the attorneys to discuss your individual adoption goals and the specifics of Florida adoption law. Once accepted, you will participate in our extensive birth mother outreach program, designed to help each birth parent and adoptive family find their ideal adoption match. Our Florida adoption attorneys work with all types of families, including single and married individuals, LGBTQ+ families, and out-of-state families. We do not accept adoptive applicants over the age of 50 due to difficulties with matching, and we do not accept gender-specific requests regarding the adopted child.


Adoptive parents must complete a home study to verify their suitability as adoptive parents. A home study, which includes criminal and child abuse clearances, physical evaluations, and confirmation of financial stability, is valid for one year. Once you have applied with our office, completed a virtual consultation, and paid the required fees to proceed, your family will have a page created on our website


For those considering adoption, one of the most common questions we are asked is how long does an average adoption match take. There is a wide variety of waiting periods dependent upon a host of controllable and non-controllable factors. Waits may be dramatically shorter or longer depending on individual situations and a client’s specified parameters for adoption such as the preferred background of the baby, age of adoptive parent, number of children in the family, financial limitations, and state of residence of adoptive parents. A birth parent usually makes a “prospective family list” that identifies the qualities important in an adoptive family. She is then presented with families who have applied to our office and completed personal profiles that meet her requests. When all else is equal, preference is given to families who have waited a longer period of time.


Pursuant to Florida law, the consent will be signed by the biological mother no sooner than 48 hours after delivery unless the birth mother is being discharged earlier by her doctor. In an adoption concerning a child under the age of six months, the consent for adoption is permanent and irrevocable from the moment it is signed, and can only be overturned based upon fraud or duress. Florida law permits finalization of adoptions once the 90 days post-placement supervision period has expired and 30 days have elapsed after entry of the Final Judgment Terminating Parental Rights. Finalization generally occurs 120 days after placement.


If you are ready to move forward with an adoption plan or have additional questions, please contact our office.

Florida Surrogacy Law – Florida Surrogacy Attorneys


If you wish to have a biological connection to your child, reproductive technology, such as surrogacy or egg donation, may be a suitable option. It is now one of the fastest-growing methods of creating a family. Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. specializes in drafting contracts, representing carriers and egg donors, and finalizing third-party reproductive arrangements under all aspects of Florida’s reproductive law. We have represented intended parents who reside in the United States and internationally, including traditional families, single intended parents, and same-sex couples. We will work with you to create an agreement that meets the specific needs of your reproductive arrangement. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge and experience in reproductive law in Florida, and are able to create an agreement that will address the legal rights and responsibilities of both the intended parents and the surrogate mother to ensure that all legal requirements are met for a Florida surrogacy arrangement. Intended parents and surrogates must have separate legal representation. Although surrogacy arrangements are typically friendly and amicable, discussing expenses and “what ifs” are best left to the professionals not personally involved.


Florida law has specific legal requirements that authorize a surrogate, often referred to as a gestational carrier or volunteer mother, to carry (gestate) a baby on behalf of the child’s intended parent(s), also known as intended parents or commissioning parents. A Florida surrogacy agreement that outlines the legal rights and responsibilities of the surrogate and intended parents must be entered into prior to commencing a pregnancy. Florida’s only legal requirement is that a surrogate must be at least 18 years of age. Most fertility doctors, however, are more particular when determining if a woman is an acceptable candidate for a surrogate pregnancy. Generally, a surrogate should be under the age of 40, have experienced 1-3 uncomplicated pregnancies, had a proportionate height/weight ratio, and maintained a safe lifestyle free from smoking, drugs, or alcohol abuse. A good support system, reliable transportation, and health insurance that covers a surrogate pregnancy are also important attributes.


Hausmann & Hickman. P.A. does not match intended parents and gestational surrogates, but handles the legal process for clients who are independently matched or matched through an agency. Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. frequently receives referrals from various fertility clinics, surrogacy matching agencies, and attorneys who practice in the area of reproductive law but are unable to finalize a surrogacy arrangement, for a variety of reasons. Following a “match”, a contract between the intended parent(s), surrogate, and her spouse (if married) must be drafted. Supporting affidavits, medical record releases, and healthcare advance directives should also be prepared to authorize the intended parents to receive ongoing medical information through the surrogate’s pregnancy. Once retained, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. is available to conference with the intended parents and/or surrogate, by telephone, Skype, or in-person, to discuss the agreement details. Between 24-30 weeks gestation, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. will commence legal proceedings in Florida and request a Pre-Birth Order authorizing the intended parents’ immediate access to the child upon birth and require all medical providers to seek payment for the child’s medical expenses from the intended parents. Upon the birth of the child, Hausmann & Hickman, P.A. will return to court to request a final order amending the child’s birth certificate to reflect the intended parents’ parentage.