Do both biological parents have to "sign off" on the adoption of a child?

Answer 1

Supposed to. However, the adoption process has numerous steps - including Child Services and the courts looking for the missing biological parent. If that doesn't work then it is posted for 30 days minimum in a legal notice. All attempts to locate a missing biological parent should be notated in the adoptive records process. Also, it should be notated whether there has been any contact with the biological parent and child at any time and if there is support payments being made or if any have ever been made. It doesn't matter in this process if the father was listed on the birth certificate or not. Typically there is a time frame (in Ohio its one year) that a biological parent has the right to contest a finalized adoption. That's when the notification process comes into play. The courts typically don't mind transferring parental rights but to cut them off without diligently trying to notify is another issue. So that courts will want to make sure the adoptive parent(s) have done everything reasonable to find all involved parties before this is finalized. And while (assuming you are the one adopting) it may not always seem right, in the end it will protect you from him coming back around and trying to reopen something.

Answer 2

Yes. If one parent cannot be found then one must resort to the courts. The courts go through a procedure to give the absent parent notice -- usually by posting a public notice and waiting a period of time. This is in order to declare the rights of the absent parent terminated. However, the absent parent could still show up after the adoption and create havoc by trying to undo the adoption on the basis that he/she had no notice. Since the right to a child is a constitutional right, it is very hard to deprive a parent of this right. Many have come out of the wood work after an adoption to undo it on the basis they had no notice that their constitutional right was about to be ended.

Answer 3

NO, your vague with your question... If your a woman and dont know the father of your child, < which that happens> then no , Why would you sign off on your child for adoption if you know the other parent would take that child, because if the father would be willing to take that child,,they could be with at least one parent, then he should have that chance, but there are alot of reasons why I wouldnt tell the father < drug addict, alcoholic, child moslter, etc... But in all cases if the father is known ,, most defintitly.

Answer 4

Generally, yes. Though if only one parent is listed on the birth certificate, or if one parent is not around, then it can be done with a single parent.

But the non-signing parent has a certain amount of time (varies by state) to contest or challenge the adoption if they didn't consent.

Answer 5

normally yes, if one bio parent can't be found they may allow the adoption, but the bio parent not signing will have certain rights latter.

Answer 6

Yes, unless the other has legally terminated perental rights.

Answer 7

i believe so yes