Do both parents have to sign for adoption?

Question

In order to give your child up for adoption do both parents have to agree? My friend wants her give up her baby for adoption but her boyfriend does not want to. But he does not want to be responsible for the baby himself. What can she do?

Answer 1

Wow! I'm amazed at all the people who think that the father should lose his rights for expecting support from the mother if he winds up parenting alone because she doesn't want to! If the situation were reversed then everyone would be yelling about child support and ":deadbeat dads"! Why should a father not expect support?! Should mothers be allowed to "walk away" but not fathers!!? Can we say "double standard"?

Yes. Both parents have to sign their rights over unless terminated through the Courts. Yes , there are also laws in several states that violate a man's rights by requiring him to "pre-claim" HIS child (putative father's registries) - however these laws aren't enough to prevent a huge mess for an adoption if the father gets a good enough lawyer!! There have been several cases where these laws have been disputed as unconstitutional and have resulted in a huge hassle for all the involved parties.

What should your friend do? If your friend doesn't want to raise the child and he does (and is fit enough to not have his rights terminated for some reason) she should give him custody and buck up and be responsible for child support - just like other "non-custodial" parents!!

IMO, keeping a child from a fit and loving parent because you don't want to bring a child into the world but not be involved is cruel and immoral! It is hurtful to both the father and the CHILD!

Answer 2

If his name is on the birth certificate then he must sign too. If no name is listed as the father...and she wishes to say he may not be the father...she can give the child up. He would have to fight to prove otherwise.

Answer 3

Not always. If the boyfriend doesn't establish his paternity legally, an adoption can take place without his signature. Her best bet is to talk to a lawyer or as someone else said, a reputable agency. If he doesn't want the responsibility, he doesn't deserve his "rights."

Laws vary by state, so she really does need to seek good legal counsel.

Answer 4

An adoption will not be able to take place without his consent.

Answer 5

She should see a lawyer. If the boyfriend will go on record as not wanting to be responsible for the baby himself, it should not be that hard to terminate his parental rights.  

Answer 6

Your friend needs to read this -

http://www.cubirthparents.org/booklet.pd...

A baby has a right to be parented by his/her mother and/or father.

This is about the baby.

This child will one day grow up - and be thinking for him/her self.

Be very very aware of the ramifications of all that is ahead.

Adoption is a long term solution to an often short term problem.

Answer 7

You need to find a reputable agency and meet with them about the situation. If he is the father, and is identified as the father, he has to give his express consent. If he is the father but is not identified, he could decide to fight the adoption and you will put your child and her parents through a horrible ordeal. By getting an agency involved you'll be able to get good legal advice and you'll have a third party who can contact him about the adoption.

Quite possibly, once he sees that you have taken concrete steps toward adoption, his attitude will change and he will be more cooperative.  

Answer 8

Have her call an adoption agency, they can direct her to the best course. I had the same thing several years ago. The "father" wanted me to get an abortion, did not want to parent or have adoption because he didn't want the responsibility or the thought of having his kid running around with some stranger. I signed, they figured out where he worked and went there and sat down with him and he ended up signing. Depends on the state you're in and laws, some of them just require a public notification of termination of parental rights.

Answer 9

It depends on the state where the baby was born, as well as whether the father is known and/or available to sign.  In general, the lawyers/agencies must make an attempt to contact him.  However, if he is not willing to sign, and doesn't want to contest the adoption, his rights "expire" after a designated amount of time (usually 30 days) after his being contacted.

Answer 10

yes they both have to sign the papers

Answer 11

They both have to sign over their rights as parents for the child to be legally available for adoption.

Answer 12

The one that has cousity will have to sign and I think they both parents have to sign it and I feel bad for the baby

Answer 13

Yes, they do.

Answer 14

She can't do anything. Adopt asians they are more passive, compliant.