I’m not 18 yet, what are my parent’s rights when it comes to placing my baby for adoption? Do they need to consent? Can they place the baby if I don’t want them to?
Birth Grandparents (your parents) do not have any legal rights when it comes to your baby. They are not able to place your baby for adoption without your consent. Nor can they prevent you from placing your baby for adoption. This is true regardless of how old you are or what state you live in. If you need help or assistance in telling your parents about your pregnancy or your adoption plans the counselors at the Independent Adoption Center can help. We have worked with many women who are afraid of telling their parents and have helpful tips on how to talk to them about adoption for the first time.
Keep in mind that you have the right to keep your pregnancy and adoption plan completely confidential, meaning, you do not have to tell your parents. Most likely however, your parents will catch on that you are pregnant after your baby starts to develop inside of you. Also, because making an adoption plan may be an emotional time for you, it might be important to have the support of your family through this process, so we highly recommend discussing the pregnancy and your options with your parents and family. But, remember the choice of whether or not to place a baby for adoption is always the choice of the expectant mother and the baby’s biological father should he choose to be involved.
If you are pregnant and considering adoption your parents do not need to consent to the adoption no matter how old you are. If for some reason you are pregnant and thinking about adoption, but need help dealing with your parents’ disapproval or pressure to make a choice that you are not comfortable with, please call a counselor at the IAC at 800-877-OPEN to get help confronting your parents.
