Adoption Rights

For birth parents, knowing their adoption rights allows them to know they're making informed decisions. It may keep them from feeling cheated by the law, as many birth parents unfortunately claim to be post-adoption.

Birth mothers are traditionally more active in the adoption process and infant placement. While few change their minds, exercising their legal adoption rights, some do end up canceling their placement plans. Women have the opportunity to change their mind any time before they sign the finalization forms that voluntarily terminate their parental rights. Sometimes, the child may even be released to go home with the adoptive parents before an adoption is finalized, making it difficult.

The birth father, although playing a less prominent role in most adoptions, has the same rights as a birth mother. His rights get a little complicated if the he is unable to be found or decides to come forward to contest the adoption before it's finalized. Sometimes, the decision is left to the courts as to whether the child should go to an adoptive parent or the birth father. Every effort is made to locate the birth father, but some women do not know who or where he is. If a birth father is not located by the time of adoption, the agency or attorney may place an adoption notice in a local paper in an effort to reach the birth father. If he does not come forward, his rights will be terminated involuntarily in his absence.