What are the chances that a birth mother may change her mind about placing her child for adoption?
If a child is placed in an adoptive home, before the birth mother has surrendered her rights, she may ask for the return of her child. The adoptive parents would be informed of this legal risk beforehand and would know the risk of this happening. It is rare, however, that it does occur if the birth mother has been properly counseled before the placement. Once a birth mother has surrendered her rights in court, she has three days or more to change her mind about the surrender. The time lapse depends on each state’s regulations. Once this time has lapsed, and the birth mother has not rescinded her rights, the surrender is final (assuming the birthfather’s rights were terminated previously in the adoption process).
