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Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions clients ask most.

Karen has collected the most common questions from consultations across her practice areas. Explore by topic below, or contact her directly for a free, 30-minute consultation to discuss your unique family formation needs.

General Questions

Karen practices exclusively in matters involving adoption and assisted reproductive technology, such as surrogacy, egg donation, embryo donation, sperm donation, and embryo disposition. Karen is also a Florida Supreme Court-certified Family Mediator and can help parties resolve disputes relating to surrogacy, embryo disposition, gamete donation, and adoption.

Karen is based in Orlando, but she represents clients internationally, nationwide, and throughout Florida. She has practiced in 16 of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.

After you submit an inquiry, Karen will respond — typically within two business days. If Karen can help, you’ll schedule a free, 30-minute initial consultation. During that consultation, she’ll listen to your situation, identify the legal framework that applies, and outline the next steps and estimated timeline.

Yes. Every consultation is confidential. However, contacting Karen through the form or by phone does not create an attorney-client relationship — that relationship is formed only after a signed legal engagement agreement.

Adoption

Karen handles stepparent adoption, relative adoption, adult adoption, and second-parent adoption. She does not handle contested private domestic infant adoption or foster-adopt cases, but can refer you to trusted colleagues for those matters.

In most cases, yes. Florida law requires consent from the non-custodial biological parent unless their parental rights have been terminated, the child has been abandoned as defined by statute, or the parent cannot be located after diligent search.

Most stepparent adoptions finalize within 3 to 6 months, depending on how quickly consents can be obtained and the court’s docket.

A traditional home study is typically not required for stepparent adoption in Florida, though some judges may request additional documentation. A second-parent adoption may require a home study, depending on the circumstances. Karen can confirm the specific requirements for your case at the initial consultation.

Gestational Surrogacy

Yes. Florida Statute 742.15 expressly authorizes gestational surrogacy agreements between legally married Intended Parents and a gestational surrogate. For Intended Parents who are unmarried, Florida Statute 63.213 is utilized for the surrogacy process.

Before any medical procedures begin. Most fertility clinics require legal clearance — which is an attorney letter stating that a gestational surrogacy agreement has been fully executed — before the gestational surrogate can start stimulation medication in preparation for embryo transfer.

Section 742.15 specifically references legally married intended parents with at least one genetic connection to the child. Alternative statutory pathways in accordance with Section 63.213 of the Florida Statutes may apply for unmarried couples or single intended parents. Karen identifies the appropriate framework at the initial consultation.

No. Intended Parents and Gestational Surrogates have distinct legal interests. Karen represents one side and recommends the other party retain independent counsel.

Egg, Sperm, & Embryo Donation

Yes. Even in anonymous arrangements, a written agreement establishes legal parentage under Florida Statute 742.14, addresses future contact and anonymity provisions, and reaffirms the donor’s relinquishment of parental rights and responsibilities. Most fertility clinics require it before the cycle begins.

Yes! Known Donor arrangements make a written agreement especially important. Expectations about the donor’s role in the child’s life, confidentiality, and future contact must be documented in advances to prevent disputes later.

Following the December 30, 2025 Florida Supreme Court decision in Brito v. Salas, Section 742.14 protections apply only when a fertility clinic is used to conceive. For at-home insemination, additional steps are required. See our Sperm Donation page for details.

The Embryo Donation Agreement addresses disposition of any embryos not transferred — continued storage, destruction, donation to research, or in some cases donation to another intended parent.

LGBTQ+ Family Building

Yes. Same-sex couples have full legal rights to adopt in Florida. Florida law treats same-sex married couples identically to opposite-sex married couples for adoption purposes.

Yes, strongly recommended. A birth certificate is an administrative document. An adoption order is a court judgment entitled to full faith and credit across state lines and recognized by most foreign jurisdictions — significantly stronger long-term protection.

Yes. Legally married same-sex couples in Florida can enter into Gestational Surrogacy Agreements under Section 742.15 on the same terms as opposite-sex couples.

Reproductive Law Mediation

Yes. Karen is certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Family Mediator and has been for more than a decade. She can apply her mediation training and skills to help resolve disputes in reproductive technology matters, such as surrogacy agreements between Intended Parents and the Gestational Surrogate, embryo disposition between co-owners, or disagreements involving egg, sperm, or embryo donation.

Yes. Communications made during Florida mediation are confidential under state law, with narrow statutory exceptions.

Working with Karen

Yes. Karen personally handles every client matter from consultation through completion. She does not hand cases off to associates or paralegals. You will work with Karen on all substantive issues of your case from beginning to end.

Fees vary by the type and complexity of the matter. Karen discusses fee structure and expected costs during the initial consultation, and a written engagement agreement documents expected fees and costs before work begins. Karen typically uses a flat fee structure so that clients know what to expect to pay for her services for the entire process – no surprises.

Contact Karen through the contact form, by phone at (407) 228-2864, or by email at kp@karenpersis.com. She personally responds to every inquiry.

Karen is admitted to practice in Florida and works with Intended Parents, Gestational Surrogates, and Donors from across the United States and internationally when Florida would have jurisdiction over the matter.

Ready to start the conversation?

Every family building journey is personal. Schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation with Karen directly.