Missouri Adoption Laws, Page 7

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Infant Safe Haven Laws

Infant’s Age

Statute: § 210.950

• No more than 30 days old

Who May Relinquish the Infant

• Biological parent
  
• Person acting on the parent's behalf
  
  

  

Who May Receive the Infant

• Staff of any hospital
  
• Firefighter or emergency medical technician
  
• Law enforcement officer

Responsibilities of the Safe Haven Provider

• Take physical custody and transport the child to nearest the hospital
  
• Provide medical treatment as needed
  
• Notify the division of family services and local juvenile officer

Immunity for the Provider

Statute: § 210.950

Protection for Relinquishing Parent

Statute: § 210.950

• For the crimes of child abandonment and endangering the welfare of a child:
  
  
  • A parent shall not be prosecuted if the child is 5 days old or younger.
    
  • It shall be an affirmative defense if the child is no less than 6 days old, but no more than 30 days old.

Effect on Parental Rights

• The child shall be made a ward of the court.
  
• The parent's delivery of the child shall constitute an implied consent to voluntary relinquishment of parental rights.
  
• A nonrelinquishing parent who wishes to establish rights to the child must identify himself or herself within 30 days of the publication of a public notice.
  

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

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