District of Columbia Adoption Laws, Page 3
Consent Laws
Who Must Consent to an Adoption
Statute: § 16-304
- Both parents, if living
- The court-appointed guardian
- A licensed child-placing agency if parental rights have been terminated
Age When Consent of Adoptee is Considered or Required
Statute: § 16-304- A child 14 years of age or older must consent to the adoption.
When Parental Consent is not Needed
Statute: § 16-304- When a parent:
- Cannot be located
- Has abandoned the child
- Has failed to support the child for at least 6 months
- Has relinquished all rights to an agency
- Cannot be located
When Consent Can Be Executed
Statute: § 4-1406(b)- No relinquishment of rights can be made within the first 72 hours after a child's birth.
- The parent must first undergo counseling.
How Consent Must Be Executed
Statute: § 16-304- Consent must be executed before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, a representative of a child-placing agency, or the Mayor's office.
Revocation of Consent
Statute: § 4-1406(c)
- Any voluntary relinquishment may be automatically revoked by a verified writing submitted to the agency within 10 calendar days.
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