The application process begins when prospective adoptive parents return the Pre-Application with the application processing fee of $500 and a current family photograph. The Pre-Application is reviewed and upon approval, the couple will receive a formal Application. Included in the Application are several forms and documents to be completed.  Prospective adoptive parents return the Application with any completed forms or documents and the application fee of $2000.

For Florida residents, the home study is included in the fee. For out of state residents, the adoptive parents are responsible for contracting with a licensed agency to complete their home study. The home study is designed to evaluate the suitability of the applicants as adoptive parents, to provide information about the adoption process and adoptive parenting, and to answer any questions for the prospective adoptive parents.

The case worker who conducts the home visit will counsel with the applicants and compile all information required to make an assessment. The information will be reviewed by the professional staff at Gift of Life Adoptions which reserves the right to approve or deny any application. All applicants will be notified in writing whether or not they have been approved.  

Birth parents have the option of selecting the adoptive parents for their child.  Adoptive parents create non-identifying Autobiographies or Personal Family Profiles to present to birth parents. In matching birth parents with prospective adoptive parents, the professional staff of the agency will select suitable autobiographies to present to birth parents for selection. The staff will make a collective decision based upon: ethnic and cultural backgrounds, social and medical history of birth parents, geographic location, degree of openness, and birth parent and adoptive parent preferences.

The adoptive parents will be notified when they have been selected by birth parents.  Most birth parents wish to meet the adoptive parents prior to placement.  This meeting occurs with a Gift of Life Adoptions representative present and in a casual atmosphere. In rare cases, adoptive parents may only be given twenty-four hour notice prior to placement.

After placement of the child in the adoptive home, Gift of Life Adoptions will conduct, or needs to receive documentation of, monthly post-placement  visits until finalization. For Florida residents, the first post-placement visit will be conducted in the adoptive parents' home with both parents and the child. The remaining visits may be conducted at our office.

If the adoptive parents are residents of Florida, their adoption will be finalized in Florida. If the adoptive parents reside outside the state of Florida, they have the option of finalizing in Florida or finalizing in their home state at their own expense.