Arkansas has the second highest rate of teen births in the country, right behind Mississippi. 88% of those pregnancies are unintended. Adoption is a good solution for young moms who are not ready to bring a child up themselves. When the birth mom is a minor, there are some special features of the adoption process.
Can a minor consent to adoption?
The mother of a child must consent to adoption in Arkansas. This is true if she is a minor, too. She must have a court-ordered guardian ad litem who will sign the document she signs giving her consent for her baby to be adopted.
A court-ordered guardian ad litem (GAL) is a neutral party appointed by the court. The GAL’s primary responsibility is to investigate the situation, gather information, and provide recommendations to the court based on what is believed to be in the best interest of the person they represent. They normally appear with the mom in court to provide consent.
Must her parents agree?
A minor can decide to give her baby the gift of an adoptive family, without input from her parents. She will make the decision herself, create her adoption plan, and choose the adoptive family herself.
The legal process is the same for a minor as for a legal adult. All birth mothers should have legal representation and counseling as needed, and a minor may have support from her parents as well. If her parents do not support her decision to choose adoption, her legal representative can help with communication. But the birth mom is in charge of the process, just as she would be if she were older.
Adoption is a brave and loving decision. It can be a difficult decision to make, but it can also be the best possible outcome for the baby.
Open adoption with a teen mom
If you are adoptive parents chosen by a teen birth mom, you can work with her to develop an open adoption plan that will allow her to have contact with the child in the future. Every open adoption plan is different, and when the birth mom is a minor you may have additional considerations. If she is still in school and living with her parents, your plans during that time may be different from the plans you might make with an older mom.
Open communication will help all the people involved make the best decisions. Heimer Law is an experienced adoption law firm, and we have helped many families in many different circumstances. Contact us for answers to your questions.
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