District of Columbia Adoption Laws, Page 3

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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:

• A child 14 years of age or older must consent to the adoption.

• 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

• No relinquishment of rights can be made within the first 72 hours after a child's birth.
  
• The parent must first undergo counseling.

• 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.
  
  

Credits: Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov)

Adoption Disruption Help

Transitions Group Home Out-of-home placement and counseling

www.transitionsgrouphome.com

Dove Adoptions Int'l

Dedicated to seeking the best wel- fare for the children of the world.

www.adoptions.net

Adoption Connection

Making Sure Babies are Happy. Find a loving family for your baby.

www.AdoptionConnection.org