What Are the Rights of Biological Parents in Adoption?
During an adoption, the child, adoptive parents, and biological parents are all involved in some capacity. For example, in order for an adoption to occur, biological parents are required to relinquish their parental rights. If they do not, an adoption cannot move forward unless the state strips them of their parental rights.
Important Information for Birth Parents
Birth parents’ consent is typically required for an adoption to occur. However, in cases of child abuse, neglect, drug and alcohol problems, or other factors that create an unacceptable living environment for children, Child Protective Services will remove children from their parents’ home. When this occurs, children may be put up for adoption and the biological parents’ consent is not required.
Termination of parental rights can be done voluntarily by the birth parents or involuntarily by the courts, if they are determined unfit parents. If your parental rights have been terminated involuntarily, you may appeal to have your rights reinstated or have your case reevaluated in order to keep your child from being adopted.
Biological parents have the right to remain anonymous. If they choose to keep their identity undisclosed, their children will not be able to obtain information about them at any point, regardless of age. Birth parents have the right to decide how and when they want to be contacted, if at all, through the adoption agency, by the adopting family, or by the child. This means that birth parents can decide if they want their identity and information to be kept secret from their children until they are 18 or 21 years old, or forever. Biological parents’ preferences about contact can be changed at any point in time.
For Local, Legal Adoption Help, Contact Scaringi Law
If you are a biological parent facing the adoption of your child, make sure your rights are protected. Get in touch with one of our experienced Pennsylvania adoption attorneys at Scaringi Law and get the help you need.
Call us at (717) 775-7195.