Navigation Florida adoption attorneys must comply with new reporting law by April 15
A new law affecting adoption entities in Florida requires them to submit case information to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). While adoption agencies have regular communication with DCF, not all adoption attorneys are aware of this new requirement.
F.S. §63.097(7) was amended to require all adoption agencies and entities (which includes attorneys as defined in Chapter 63) to submit information to DCF about the adoptions they finalize. All adoption entities need to file the first quarterly report by April 15.
Mary K. Wimsett, a board-certified adoption attorney in Gainesville and president of the Florida Adoption Council (FAC), notes that while FAC has notified its members of the law and its reporting deadline, some attorneys who finalize adoptions are not members of FAC and with the April 15 deadline looming, failure to comply could result in penalties or other enforcement actions.
