Are birth parents able to change their minds and take their children back?
Each state has different rules about how long a birth parent has to change their mind about placing their child into an adoptive home. For example, in Washington, a birth parent has 48 hours from the time they sign relinquishment of parental rights paperwork before their decision becomes irrevocable. In Oregon, their decision becomes irrevocable as soon as they sign. Other states have a waiting period of several days or weeks. In each case, the adopting family would be notified of the length of the time before a birth parent’s decision would be come final. If the adopting family is willing to take the risk of a birth parent changing their mind during that period, and would like the baby placed with them as soon as possible, or staff would ask the adopting family to read and sign a “Legal Risk” document stating they understood the birth parent could change their mind for a few more hours, days or weeks, depending on the circumstances. This is a decision the adopting family must carefull
