Adoption Question

[brettkathyl]

My brother and sister in law have been working with an agency for the past year. They just got a call a week ago that a birth mother has called in and has chosen them as adoptive parents. Birth mother is 17 and father is not in the picture and has told her from the beginning that he wanted no part in this child nor her. The birth father has evidently fathered a child with another young girl and does not have custody. At this point the baby is being born by c-section on Oct 23, birth mother wants to relinquish parental rights but cannot find the father so that he could relinsquish his rights. I would like to know what happens to this child if the birth father does not come forth. Does my brother and sister in-law have any chance of adopting this child? Any insight on this matter would be greatly appreciated. All parties involves live in Massachusetts.

 

[Duranie]

Mom obviously knows who the Dad is, and she needs to terminate his rights otherwise dad can always come forward and challenge this. dodging him is not going to help anyone. An adoptionb attorney is going to insist this get done correctly. If she actually cannot find Dad then an attempt needs to be made to locate him, and probably place an ad in the paper.

 

[brettkathyl]

As I understand that an ad has to be put in the paper and wait 30 days. What if the dad does not respond? Can an adoption still occur? Who has possession of the child during this time?