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AdoptHelp

Putting Up Baby for Adoption in California

Putting Up Baby for Adoption in California

Explore your choices, learn what's possible

We are here to empower, support, and guide you

If you are pregnant and are looking to put your baby up for adoption through voluntary open adoption, you are a superhero who is facing some difficult challenges. This choice is made out of love and all above ‘hope’ for your baby’s future – who deserves compassionate support and thoughtful guidance. If you’re in such a position, you are thinking about adoption options and whom to trust.

You are not alone. Many expectant mothers opt for adoption so they can place their babies in wonderful secure, safe, and loving families. Our professionals see you as an extraordinary woman. They seek to empower you emotionally and and take care of your needs through every step of the process.

At AdoptHelp, you choose the type of adoption, you choose the family, and you make all the decisions and we will guide you through the complete procedure, and make sure you have everything you need.

How to Give Baby Up for Adoption / How to Place Baby For Adoption?

Step 1: Explore Your Options for Baby Adoption

Take time to think about what is best for your baby and you before starting the adoption process in California. You can ask yourself questions like:

  • What option feels most aligned with my values and circumstances?
  • Can I provide the emotional and financial support a child needs right now?
  • Would placing my baby for adoption give them the best possible future?

If you’re not sure, you can speak to professionals at AdoptHelp. We’ll help you explore every option available to you, and will respect whatever decision to make.

Each year in the United States, around 18,000 domestic infant adoptions take place, with many mothers choosing adoption as they believe it offers their child the safest environment and the brightest possible future.

Step 2: A Personalized Adoption Plan

Once you’ve decided that adoption is the right path for you, our team at AdoptHelp will work closely with you to create a plan for your needs and preferences. You’ll remain in control of the whole process; from choosing the adoptive family to deciding how much contact you’d like. We’ll handle the finances, legal steps, coordination, and paperwork.

Step 3: Choose An Adoptive Family

Every birth mother has the right to choose a family that is loving and stable for their baby.

You can review the detailed profile of home-study approved parents, like what they value, their parenting and lifestyle, and more. You can take your time, and we’ll walk you through different options so you can feel confident in your choice.

Step 4: Create a Strong Relationship with the Adoptive Family

Open adoption is the most preferred and common approach nowadays. This gives you the opportunity to know and meet the adoptive parents and stay connected even after the placement. This creates a bond of healing and comfort for everyone involved.

Step 5: Finalize the Adoption and Deliver Your Baby

After the baby is born, we will assist you with all the legal steps for making the adoptive placement with the family you select. Our adoption professionals will take you through all steps with complete transparency. This will ensure that you are legally protected, supported, and informed.

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Adoption Consent Laws In California:

Who must consent and When is it Irrevocable

In California, a birth mother cannot consent to the adoption until after she has delivered the baby and her doctor has signed that she can be discharged from the hospital. She cannot be on pain medication and needs to meet with an independent social worker or a social worker form an agency. A birth mother can choose when she wants her consent to the adoption to be irrevocable. The fastest option typically is 5:00 the next business day from signing. The most common approach is 2-14 days from signing. The longest approach is to sign paperwork that gives her 30 days in which she can change her mind.

In California, biological fathers must consent to the adoption if they are married to the birth mother or they financially took care of the birth mother during the pregnancy and demonstrated a strong commitment to wanting to parent the child. If he isn’t married to the birth mother and hasn’t demonstrated a strong commitment to himself parenting the child, his consent is not required as the standard for the adoption to be granted is the child’s best interest not the birth father’s rights.

Common Questions People Ask About Putting Up a Baby for Adoption

Can a birth parent revoke consent to adoption in California?

In case of agency adoptions, consent is irrevocable when the California Department of Social Services receives and officially acknowledges receipt of the relinquishment signed by the birth parent. The California Department of Social Services has 2-10 business days to do so. If it fails to do so, the relinquishment becomes irrevocable after the 10th business day from the signing. In independent adoptions, the Independent Adoption Placement Agreement signed by the birth parent becomes irrevocable at 30 days. A birth parent has the option of signing a waiver document that waives the 30 days and makes the placement irrevocable at 5:00 the next business day or immediately if signed by a birth parent out of the state of California.

What rights do birth fathers have in the adoption process in California?

A man is considered a presumed father if he was married to the mother of the child, has the name on the birth certificate, acknowledged paternity, supported the child, and attempted marriage. Presumed fathers have the right to be involved in the complete adoption process. But his rights can be terminated without his consent if he has abandoned the child typically for a period of six months, has a dangerous criminal conviction, or it is proven that he is not the biological father and has no relationship with the child. If the birth father is just a biological father who is not married to the birth mother and is not providing financial support and demonstrating a strong commitment to parenting the baby, his rights can be terminated without his consent as long as he is served with a notice of alleged paternity or his identity or whereabouts are unknown. Even if he contests the adoption, his parental rights will be terminated if the Court finds that the adoption is in the best interests of the child.

What are the benefits of working with an adoption agency?

Working with an adoption agency can provide you with the protection, guidance, and support you need. Agencies are social workers so they can offer counseling services to you and they also can take custody of the baby and place the baby with the family you select. While the adoption is pending, the adoption agency is responsible for making sure the baby is doing well and writes a report to the Court recommending that the adoption proceed.

What are the benefits of Working with an Adoption Attorney?

An adoption attorney has a duty to protect their client. They are licensed by the State Bar and are vigorous advocates for their clients. An adoption attorney will inform you of all of your rights and options and make sure that every decision you are making and every form you are signing is fully understood by you and in your best interest. Adoption is a legal process so everyone who is involved in an adoption whether an adoptive parent or a birth parent should have their own adoption attorney to protect them throughout the process.

There are three types of Open adoption relationships?

There are typically 3 adoption relationships: Open Adoption, where you can make direct contacts, like calls, visits, and updates and in-person visits are shared between adoptive and birth families. Semi-Open Adoption, where communication is by picture and letters and the parties don’t visit in person. The last is Closed Adoption, where no information is shared and no contact or updates of any kind are made after the placement. Semi-open and open adoption are the most common types of adoption in the United States.

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