STOP ADOPTIONS

Adoption Prevention: Know Your Rights as a father

Were you married? No?
Do you still have rights as a father? Yes!
But what if the mother puts your child up for adoption? Can you stop this?

If you are unmarried, protect your parental rights by registering with your state’s Putative Father Registry. This ensures that you are notified of any adoption proceedings involving your child and could respond.

Steps to Register with the Putative Father Registry

The Florida Department of Health works to safeguard the well-being of all Floridians. The Bureau of Vital Statistics manages the Putative Father Registry in Florida.

What You’ll Need:

• Contact:
  Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  Phone: (904) 359-6900

How to Register, Update, or Search the Registry:

• Visit the Bureau’s website to complete the application online.

• Download and fill out any required forms.

• Submit the application following the instructions provided.

This registration allows you to preserve your right to notice and consent before an adoption can proceed.

All applications can be completed online using your computer. After filling out the necessary forms, be sure to print, sign, and mail them to the address listed on the application.

Filing a Claim of Paternity

To establish your rights as a potential father, refer to the Putative Father Registry provisions within your state’s statutes. The registry, maintained by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, allows an unmarried man alleging to be the biological father to preserve his right to notice and consent in the event of an adoption.

Important Details:

• Costs and fees for filing in the Putative Father Registry vary by state.

• Non-refundable fees apply for filing and indexing the claim.

• A Claim of Paternity can be filed before the child’s birth but not after a petition for termination of parental rights is filed.

• Filing a claim does not alter the child’s birth record. To be listed as the father on the birth certificate, the man must either:

  • Obtain the mother’s consent or

  • Secure a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction.

Some states also allow for voluntary paternity acknowledgment by both parents.