Domestic adoption

06/17/2002 In most states, birth fathers can generally consent to adoption at any time, while birth mothers must wait until after the birth of the child. Most states also require a waiting period before the birth mother gives that consent. The shortest waiting periods are 12 and 24 hours and the longest are 10 and 15 days. The most common, in 15 states including Pennsylvania, is 72 hours, or three days. Nearly all states regulate the fees and expenses adoptive parents are expected to pay the birth parents. Some fees and expenses typically addressed in state statutes are placement costs, such as agency fees; legal and attorney expenses for adoptive and birth parents; and some of the expenses of the birth mother during pregnancy. About a dozen states specify expenses that adoptive parents are not permitted to pay. These include educational expenses, vehicles, vacations, permanent housing, or any other payment for the monetary gain of the birth parent. Here is a look at Pennsylvania's adoption laws: n Who must consent: The parents or surviving parent; the guardian or custodian; the husband or former husband of the natural mother unless there is proof that he is not the natural father. n When consent may be executed: Consent may not be executed until at least 72 hours after the child's birth. The birth father may execute a consent at any time after receiving notice of the expected or actual birth of the child. n Revocation of consent: A parent can revoke consent until the court has entered either a termination order that confirms consent or an adoption decree. n Allowable birth parent expenses: Medical and hospital costs; foster care expenses; adjustment counseling; training services n Expenses not allowed: The court may provide appropriate relief when it finds the expenses reported by the birth parents are excessive. Source: National Adoption Information Clearinghouse and Pennsylvania Adoption Law. ©Scranton Times Tribune 2002 Reader Opinions Back to top  NEXT PAGE   Questions or comments? Contact Us Click here for home delivery of The Times-Tribune Read our Privacy Policy News | Sports | Obits | Opinion | Business Delivery problems | Place an ad | Letters to the editor Copyright © 1995 - 2002 PowerOne Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.