Is a Birth Father Forgotten During the Adoption Process?
By Blessing E. Ikhimokpa
When people talk about adoption and placing the child up, they focus on the birth mother and how they feel. But unfortunately, they don’t focus on the birth father, making people think they’re forgotten in the adoption process.
The birth father isn’t forgotten or ignored. But placing a child up for adoption is a decision that needs to be made by the birth mother. The birth father’s responsibility to the birth mother is to be there as support. At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we offer a free consultation for birth mothers considering adoption for their baby. Placing a child up for adoption is a decision that cannot be changed once done. So, if you’re doing this alone or with a partner, be 100% sure that this is the decision you want.
Does the birth father have to consent to adoption for it to happen in Arizona?
The birth father will have to consent to adoption if they:
- Were married ten months before the child’s birth
- Have their name on the child’s birth certificate
- Have a paternity test proving they’re the birth father
Otherwise, the birth mother could place a baby for adoption with or without the birth father’s knowledge. In need of unplanned pregnancy help? You’re probably wondering if the birth father has to be approved.
If the birth father isn’t aware of the pregnancy and they haven’t filed with the Putative Father Registry. Then the birth mother doesn’t need their approval or consent when placing the child up for adoption.
What role does the birth father have when placing a child up for adoption?
Placing a child up for adoption is a task that will take a toll on the birth mother. So the main thing the birth father can do is to be supportive. The birth mother will need full support when making this decision. Not only will they need support during the birth and the adoption process. In addition, the birth mother will need support after the adoption process is over.
The birth mother needs the birth father to tell them they’ve done great. That they didn’t place the child up for adoption for no reason. There was a reason. Be it financial or because they weren’t ready for kids. The birth father’s responsibility is to be by the mother’s side. To be the thing they can rely on whenever they feel regret or guilt.
Why do people think we forget birth fathers during adoption?
The reason people think birth fathers are forgotten. It is because of the circumstances of why the birth mothers are putting a baby up for adoption. We know that the adoption journey is unique to each person at our agency, and we are always here to help you.
We know that not every birth mother’s situation is the same. That every birth mother doesn’t have a supportive figure in their life. This is why people forget about the birth father during the adoption process. At times people forget about the birth father because they’re not always:
- Supportive of the adoption
- In the birth mother’s life
- Aware that the birth mother has become pregnant.
If the father isn’t in the birth child’s life after trying to find them in Arizona. They could take away parental rights when the birth mother is placing the child up for adoption. The birth father will receive a notice if they have filed with the Putative Father Registry. Otherwise, they won’t be notified of the adoption.
Does the birth father have to pay child support once the child has been adopted?
The birth father will only have to pay child support if the child hasn’t been adopted. So, in this case, the birth father doesn’t have to pay child support. Child support is when either the birth mother or the birth father has the birth child with them. Once the child has been adopted. The parental rights of the birth mother and father are gone. When you place a child up for adoption, you give the adoptive parents parental rights.
If you’re pregnant and need unplanned pregnancy help because the birth father isn’t in the picture. You can contact us at our agency adoption agencies in Arizona. In placing a child up for adoption. You have to “Understand the Process.” This is why we have counselors and adoption agents that will walk you through the process.
Thinking of placing a child up for adoption but having questions about the birth father or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are a prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please instead visit us here!
