Can a teenage mother change her mind about signing over rights , is there a grace period? :rolleyes: She signed one day and the next she wanted to change it.

What State? Private adoption?

Add to that, how old is she?

Actually, age has no bearing on relinquishment laws.

How long ago did this happen, though? And yes--what state? Laws on this vary from state to state.

The most important question though is how long ago she signed away her rights.

I am fairly certain that many states do not allow minors to sign away rights. Also many states do not allow a parent to waive the rights of a minor, what's your read Judy?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I am fairly certain that many states do not allow minors to sign away rights. Also many states do not allow a parent to waive the rights of a minor, whats your read Judy??

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The only way it can happen is if it was an adoption and a minor has all the rights there and the parents have zero say in it.

Who were the rights signed over to?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I am fairly certain that many states do not allow minors to sign away rights. Also many states do not allow a parent to waive the rights of a minor, whats your read Judy??

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In many states they allow a baby to be dropped off and no questions asked. They don't try to find the fathers or anything and can be dropped off at even firestations.

I am referring to the rights of the teenage mom and not the baby. States vary as to when this teenager is old enough to enter into a contract or exercise rights.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I am refering to the rights of the teenage mom and not the baby. States vary as to when this teenager is old enough to enter into a contract or exercise rights.

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This is an interesting angle - can an underage mother sign what amounts to a legal contract? Frightening thought if she cannot but without the State it's impossible to research.

When it comes to her child, a teenager is considered emancipated and can sign contracts and make decisions regarding the health and well being of her child. Now, she cannot enter into any contracts regarding the health and well being of herself, her parents have to do this as long as she is a minor.

I don't know of a SINGLE state where the decision whether to parent or choose adoption can be determined by anyone but the parents of the child. Period.

Even if the mother is only 13---her parents have absolutely NO say in whether she chooses adoption. Can they coerce her to do so? Absolutely! It happens all the time! HOWEVER: coercion is one of the few ways that an adoption can get overturned and the child returned to the birthmother.

So--no. It doesn't matter how old the birthmother is. It DOES, however, have a HUGE bearing which state this is in, because state laws on the grace period a birthparent has to change her/his mind vary.

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Originally Posted by Synnen

I don't know of a SINGLE state where the decision whether or not to parent or choose adoption can be determined by anyone but the parents of the child. Period.

Even if the mother is only 13---her parents have absolutely NO say in whether or not she chooses adoption. Can they coerce her to do so? Absolutely! It happens all the time! HOWEVER: coercion is one of the few ways that an adoption can get overturned and the child returned to the birthmother.

So--no. It doesn't matter how old the birthmother is. It DOES, however, have a HUGE bearing which state this is in, because state laws on the grace period a birthparent has to change her/his mind vary.

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Yup. That's what I was trying to say, but you did it so much better. ;)

Out of greenies but I was wondering about this - good to know, great explanation.

I like the tag team approach.

1.In some states/ as Pa/ if you have a child you are automatically considered as an adult.

2.There are revocation period in all states. It is from 20 to 60 days after signing./in independent adoption/.
In agency adoption the mother cannot revoke or change her mind after appearance in court and the signing over her rights.

Pennypincherone, you still out there, what state is this in and what is the age of the mother?