Danelle Dykes Barksdale
Verified
Practice area
Top-rated adoption lawyers
Adoption lawyers and law firms, ranked by location with the LexRank methodology.
8 lawyers1 law firm1 ranking8 with verified professional data
LexRanked tracks 8 lawyers and 1 law firm in adoption law. 8 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.
LexRanked ranks 6 adoption lawyers in Florida, all in the Tampa ranking. Every position follows the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source, such as each lawyer's Florida Bar profile; payment never changes a position.
Rankings
1 ranking, each ordering lawyers by the LexRank score.
Tampa
- Adoption · 6 lawyers
Market statistics
- Lawyers
- 8
- Law firms
- 1
- Verified professional data
- 8 of 8
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 34 years8 lawyers
Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld.
By city
The highest-scoring lawyers on this page, grouped by city; each ranking above lists every lawyer.
Highest-scoring adoption lawyers
The 8 highest LexRank scores on this page; each profile shows the sources behind its facts.
84LexRank
84LexRank
84LexRank
84LexRank
75.6LexRank
75.6LexRank
72LexRank
Adoption law firms
63LexRank
What does a adoption lawyer do?
An adoption lawyer guides birth parents and adoptive families through consents, termination of parental rights, home studies and the final hearing, in agency, private, stepparent, relative and adult adoptions.
- Private and agency adoptions
- Stepparent and relative adoptions
- Consents and termination of parental rights
- Interstate adoptions (ICPC)
- Adult adoptions
- Contested adoptions and paternity issues
When do you need a adoption lawyer?
Talk to an adoption lawyer before any consent is signed or money changes hands, because a signed consent is generally final and payments to a birth mother are limited by law.
- You are planning a private or stepparent adoption
- A birth parent has signed or is about to sign a consent
- The child will move from another state
- A biological father has come forward
Who are the best adoption lawyers in Florida?
LexRanked ranks adoption lawyers city by city; each ranking orders lawyers with an office in that city by their LexRank score.
Where can I find a adoption lawyer in Florida?
LexRanked ranks adoption lawyers in Tampa, where the ranking compares 6 lawyers with an office in the city.
| City ranking | Lawyers compared |
|---|---|
| Top-ranked adoption lawyers in Tampa | 6 |
How much does a adoption lawyer cost in Florida?
Adoption lawyers usually charge a flat fee for stepparent and relative adoptions and bill private adoptions by the hour or in stages. Ask for an itemized estimate of fees and costs in writing. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.
Florida adoption rules to know
In Florida a birth mother may consent to adoption 48 hours after birth or when she is told she is fit to leave the hospital, whichever is earlier, and once signed the consent is generally final.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Timing of consent | A birth mother may consent 48 hours after birth or on written notice that she is fit for release, whichever is earlier (Fla. Stat. § 63.082) |
| Revocation | The consent is valid when signed and may be withdrawn only for fraud or duress; for a child older than 6 months there is a 3 business day revocation period (§ 63.082) |
| Child's consent | A child 12 or older must consent unless the court dispenses with it in the child's best interest (§ 63.062) |
| Final hearing | Not sooner than 30 days after parental rights are terminated or 90 days after placement, unless good cause is shown (§ 63.122) |
| Confidential records | Adoption hearings are closed and adoption records are confidential, open only by court order (§ 63.162) |
| Expenses | Selling or buying a child is unlawful; adoptive parents may pay the birth mother's actual expenses for up to 6 weeks after birth as the law allows (§ 63.212) |
What does Board Certified in Adoption Law mean?
It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.
How to choose a adoption lawyer
Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
- Check for Board Certified in Adoption Law, which requires peer review and an exam.
- Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
- Ask: How many adoptions like mine have you finalized?
- Ask: Who handles the home study?
- Ask: What expenses may we legally pay?
How LexRanked ranks adoption lawyers
By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked October 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.
Sources
- Florida Statutes, section 63.082 (execution of consent and revocation)
- Florida Statutes, section 63.062 (persons required to consent)
- Florida Statutes, section 63.122 (notice of hearing)
- Florida Statutes, section 63.162 (confidential records)
- Florida Statutes, section 63.212 (prohibited acts)
- Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
- The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory
Frequently asked questions
What does a adoption lawyer do?
An adoption lawyer guides birth parents and adoptive families through consents, termination of parental rights, home studies and the final hearing, in agency, private, stepparent, relative and adult adoptions.
How much does a adoption lawyer cost in Florida?
Adoption lawyers usually charge a flat fee for stepparent and relative adoptions and bill private adoptions by the hour or in stages. Ask for an itemized estimate of fees and costs in writing.
When can a birth mother sign an adoption consent in Florida?
48 hours after the child's birth, or the day she is notified in writing that she is fit to be released from the hospital or birth center, whichever is earlier (section 63.082).
Can a birth parent change their mind after signing?
For a child 6 months old or younger the consent is valid when signed and can be withdrawn only if a court finds fraud or duress. For an older child there is a 3 business day revocation period (section 63.082).
How long does a Florida adoption take to finalize?
The final hearing may not be held sooner than 30 days after the judgment terminating parental rights or 90 days after the child was placed in the home, unless good cause is shown (section 63.122). Stepparent and relative adoptions can move faster.
Are Florida adoption records sealed?
Yes. Adoption hearings are held in closed court and the records are confidential, open only by court order (section 63.162).
Who certifies adoption lawyers in Florida?
The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Adoption Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.
Where are the best adoption lawyers in Florida?
LexRanked ranks adoption lawyers in Tampa, where the ranking compares 6 lawyers.
How do I check a adoption lawyer's license in Florida?
Search the lawyer's name in The Florida Bar's Find a Lawyer directory: it shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice, any board certification and public discipline. Concerns about a lawyer go to The Florida Bar's Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP), 866-352-0707.
Editorially reviewed by LexRanked editorial team on October 29, 2026.