A birth father is the biological father of a child who has been or will be adopted; understanding birth father rights and how they apply to the adoption process is just as important as it is for the birth mother of the child. Below we address frequently asked questions – both by expectant birth mother and birth father.
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Birth Father Rights
Birth Father Responsibilities
What if I’m pursuing adoption when the father is unknown, uninvolved, or unsupportive?
Depending on the facts of the situation, we may be able to help you place your baby for adoption even without the birth father’s consent. Each adoption situation is unique, and our team will help you determine whether you can move forward with your adoption plan.
Your situation will determine the best course of action to proceed with your adoption plan. Call us so we can help you explore your options and get you in touch with legal counsel who can help!
Supportive Birth Fathers and/or Married Couples Choosing Adoption
If you are a married couple, in a relationship, or no longer together, but the child’s father is supportive of your adoption plan, the adoption can continue without any additional requirements. Together, the two of you can choose an adoptive family for your child and determine what level of contact you would like to maintain with your child and his or her adoptive family.
Once the child is born, both you and the birth father will sign consent paperwork that will allow the adoption to take place. According to Kansas adoption law, these consents cannot be signed until 12 hours after the birth. According to Missouri adoption law, these consents cannot be signed until 48 hours after the birth.
Pregnant and Divorcing: Is Adoption an Option for You?
If you are getting a divorce while pregnant, you may wonder, can I put a baby up for adoption while in a divorce?
Adoption is always an option for an expectant mother, even if you are going through a divorce while pregnant. While there are several aspects to consider during this time, including the possibility of becoming a single parent, what’s most important is the best interest of your unborn baby.
What Are My Responsibilities as the Father?
When it comes to dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, much of the compassion, sympathy and focus is placed on the woman. But what about the father of the baby? How does he feel when the mother of his baby is considering adoption, and what are his responsibilities as the birth father?
It is common for birth fathers and birth mothers to experience many of the same emotions, such as grief, denial or sadness, but one of the strongest emotions that birth fathers feel is embarrassment.
Embarrassment is common because these men sometimes feel like they didn’t live up to their responsibilities as the birth father. They fear family members, friends, co-workers or fellow students will look at them as somehow failing the child. And they struggle to accept the fact that, at this point in their lives, they cannot provide for the baby like an adoptive family could.
If you are a father in a similar situation, please understand that supporting an adoption doesn’t portray you as irresponsible, weak or a man not living up to the responsibilities of a father. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
Supporting the birth mother’s adoption plan is the most responsible decision you can make in this situation. Making such a difficult decision takes a great deal of strength that will make others proud. You will be remembered as a true blessing to not only your family and the adoptive family, but also to your birth son or daughter.
Regardless if you and the birth mother are still together, you may still be a part of the adoption plan.
If you are still together, you both can decide exactly how you want the adoption to play out. Together, you will choose the adoptive family, what kind of contact you want with the adoptive family, and what the hospital stay will look like.
If you and the birth mother are not together anymore, you can still be involved in the adoption, and you can even create your own adoption plan. For example, if the birth mother is interested in a closed adoption, but you are interested in receiving pictures, letters and periodic emails from the adoptive family, that can be arranged by your Birth Parent Counselor.
For many birth fathers, this decision can be as difficult as it is for the birth mother.
If My Child is Adopted, Do I Still Have to Pay Child Support?
This is a common and completely valid question for many prospective birth parents: Will I be responsible for child support if my child is adopted by new parents?