The decision and willingness to add a new member to one's family is of course both admirable and heart-warming. There are many different methods of adoption, but with same-sex couples, this could be especially complicated. Although gay marriage was legalized throughout the United States in 2015, the process for same-sex couples to adopt still often comes with some additional challenges in many states, and may even be illegal in other states, including Florida.
Adoption for same sex couples or same sex married couples is allowed in the state of Texas. For a lesbian couple, a common method is to visit a sperm bank or find a donor among friends. It is not uncommon for a homosexual male couple to use a surrogate mother. Other methods also include adoption through an agency, whether in the United States or internationally, which could come with hurdles and restrictions. Regardless of one's method of adopting, it is strongly encouraged that a couple who wishes to adopt create a parenting agreement so that each spouse is aware of their responsibilities and rights.
Gay couples are allowed to jointly adopt a child or legally adopt the biological child of their partner. This will allow both spouses to become legal parents. It is not uncommon for non-biological parents to go through procedures similar to stepparent adoption. But again, the laws regarding adoption for same-sex couple still varies widely depending upon the state you live in.
In an effort to make sure that a child's best interests are always taken into consideration, the process for adoption in the United States is not simple. But as you can see, things can be especially difficult for same-sex couples trying to adopt. If you have any questions or concerns or need help working through the adoption process, it might be helpful to reach out to a firm familiar with family law and adoptions to see whether they can help.