Adoption and Alternatives

Question 1

What are the two steps in the adoption process?

Answer 1

(1) Termination of the biological parents’ parental rights
(2) Creation of a new legal relationship between the adoptive parents and the child

Question 2

When is an unmarried father’s consent required for an adoption to occur?

Answer 2

When the father has consistently cared for the child

Question 3

Is a parent’s consent to adoption revocable?

Answer 3

Yes. Usually within several days

Question 4

Under what circumstances can adoptive parents pay a biological mother?

Answer 4

Only for medical expenses related to birth

Question 5

When may a court issue an adoption decree when the biological parents do not consent?

Answer 5

(1) The child has been neglected, abused, or abandoned; and
(2) Consent is being unreasonably withheld and is not in the best interests of the child

Question 6

Under what circumstances will a sperm donor not have parental rights?

Answer 6

When the sperm donor:
(1) Is not the mother’s partner; and
(2) Donated sperm to be used in an artificial insemination procedure

Question 7

Does the UPA allow surrogacy agreements?

Answer 7

Yes, so long as the biological mother is able to make decisions about her health and the fetus’ health