November is recognized as a month to acknowledge and appreciate the life-changing benefits of adoption. In 1998, National Adoption Month was created as an extension of Adoption Week, which promoted the need for adoptive families to help the growing number of children in foster care. Today, the month of November not only brings awareness and appreciation to adoptive families but advocates for children needing homes. Adoption agencies and organizations take time in November to encourage businesses and programs to promote adoption throughout their communities.
The Clerk’s Office processes adoption cases from opening petitions to Final Judgments. Each year, our office opens dozens of adoption cases and assists in processing filings. Many children are adopted into loving families through the help of our courts, clerks, and judges. If you or someone you know is considering adoption, more information can be found on our website at www.collerclerk.com.
Adoption in Florida: What the Numbers Show
According to Florida Department of Children and Families, in Fiscal Year 2023–2024, Florida finalized 3,969 adoptions statewide, nearly a 10% increase from the year before, thanks in part to streamlined adoption processes.
- Throughout the state, the Department of Children and Families has launched a revamped Adopt Florida website to make it easier for prospective families to access adoption resources and navigate the process.
- In late 2024, over 20 children in Collier and Lee counties were placed into permanent homes.
- Throughout the state, the Department of Children and Families has launched a revamped Adopt Florida website to make it easier for prospective families to access adoption resources and navigate the process.
- In late 2024, over 20 children in Collier and Lee counties were placed into permanent homes.
These numbers are hopeful indicators, but many children still await permanency, and the adoption journey often involves challenges large and small. At the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, we are a crucial step in the adoption pathway, from accepting petitions and managing case filings to processing final judgments.
Our office provides resources and guidance for prospective adoptive parents through our Adoption Resources page www.collierclerk.com/court-divisions/family-law/adoption/adoption-resources, including information on adoption statutes, local legal aid, and our Self‑Help Center.