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Adoption

In some cases, birth mothers can choose adoption even if the birth father is not present. Learn more about birth father rights in adoption here.

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Birth Father Rights in Adoption

4 Questions and Answers

Navigating adoption can bring up many questions, especially when it comes to the rights of a biological father in adoption. Birth father rights in adoption vary by state.

The best way to get help navigating an adoption with or without the birth father is to get in touch with an adoption professional.

1. Do Fathers Automatically Have Legal Rights in Adoption?

State laws determine who is legally considered the father when a woman gives birth. These laws vary from state to state.

If a man is considered the legal father of a child, then he often has legal rights in an adoption that are equal to the birth mother’s.

No one factor determines who the legal father is when a child is born across the United States, but the following may be a factor depending on your state:

Since state laws regarding legal fatherhood vary, it is best to get the help of an adoption attorney to determine who has legal birth father rights in adoption.

2. Can a Mother Put a Baby Up for Adoption Without the Father Present?

If you are considering adoption for your baby, you can always get help from an adoption agency. Adoption professionals are trained to help you wherever you are—whether you are currently pregnant, at the hospital, or you are already parenting.

State laws vary on birth father rights in adoption, and you may need approval from the birth father to complete an adoption in some cases, but there are no requirements to contact an adoption agency.  You can get free help with your pregnancy, and an adoption professional can help you determine the steps you will need to take to complete an adoption.

If it is necessary to contact the birth father for your adoption, an adoption professional can help with contact with the birth father and can get you legal help when necessary.

3. Does the Father Have a Say in Adoption?

If laws in your state determine that someone has legal rights as a birth father, in most cases, the birth father can have a say in your adoption.

If you are thinking “I want to give my baby up for adoption but the father doesn’t” you may be at a crossroads in your adoption, but that doesn’t mean adoption is not possible.

The best thing you can do if you are facing a crossroads and you and your child’s father disagree about your adoption decision is to contact an adoption professional. An adoption professional can provide adoption counseling and assist you in getting legal help if you determine that adoption is the best path forward.

4. What are the Birth Father’s Rights in Adoption in Cases of an Unknown or Unfit Father?

Depending on your state, in some cases, you may not need legal consent from a birth father for an adoption. Some examples are when the father is unknown or when it is legally determined that the birth father is not fit to be a father.

When a birth father is unknown, his birth father rights may not ever be established, but if a birth father’s rights have been established, it may require legal processes to terminate birth father rights. State laws vary in determining who the legal father is of a pregnancy. Some states use a putative father registry.

The process for terminating birth father rights is sometimes used when the legal father abandons the birth mother, is unable to parent due to substance abuse or criminal behavior, or makes no effort to support the child or birth mother.

5. How Can I Learn More About Birth Father Adoption Laws?

You can learn more about birth father adoption laws by looking at your state’s legislature website, on legal websites, or by contacting an adoption professional or adoption lawyer.

Get Help Navigating Birth Father Rights in Adoption

Navigating birth father rights can be complex, but your adoption professional will be able to connect you with an adoption attorney at no cost to you. You can click here to get help from an adoption professional now.