Birth Father Roles and Responsibilities in OK
If you are considering putting your child up for adoption, there are a lot of different aspects you need to know. The adoption process can be overwhelming, so having support and the information you need is important to make the best choices for you and your child. If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, having the support of the birth father can be a crucial step in your adoption plan. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we know how important support can be, and that’s why we encourage support from birth fathers to take an active role in the adoption process.
Keep reading if you’re interested in learning more about birth father roles and responsibilities during your child’s adoption process!
Types of Birth Fathers
Before knowing about the roles and rights a birth father has regarding their child’s adoption process, it’s first important to know the types of the birth father. When it comes to Oklahoma adoption, you want to make sure you and your partner are on the same page when determining if adoption is right for you.
- Known Birth Fathers: This sounds exactly what you would expect, but it is when a birth mother knows her child’s biological father, no matter her relationship with him.
- Unknown Birth Fathers: Just as you can probably guess, there are also instances in which a birth mother does not know her child’s biological father.
- Unsupportive Birth Fathers: Every situation is different regarding determining whether adoption is the right choice or not and the relationship between birth parents. While many birth fathers support adoption, that is not always the case.
It is still possible to continue through the adoption process without the support of the birth father. However, both birth parents have to consent if the birth father is a legal birth father. This means if you are married and his parental rights have not been terminated.
Birth Father Rights
Both birth parents are encouraged to take an active role in shaping their child’s adoption plan. If you are a supportive known birth father, you can have the same responsibilities and roles as the birth mother. Here are some examples of what your roles can look like:
Choosing To Be Involved in the Adoption Process
You have the right to choose whether or not you want to be involved in the adoption process. However, we encourage both birth parents to communicate openly and honestly about the future they want for their child, so we can work together to make it happen.
Creating an Adoption Plan
An adoption plan is an essential part of Oklahoma adoption. This is a step-by-step written-out plan regarding the adoptive family, outlining the type of birth plan and communication you both want. This makes the process a lot easier for you both and makes it less overwhelming to know what the next step is and what you have to consider.
Choosing an Adoptive Family
A crucial element of the adoption plan is determining your preferences regarding what kind of family you want to put your child with. Therefore, when you are putting your child up for adoption, you want to consider your values, beliefs, parenting styles, and what you want for your child. Both of you can work with our adoption specialists to determine what kind of family would be best for your child and what kind of environment they have at home.
Contact Post-Placement
Another element you both want to consider when making an adoption plan is the type of communication you two will want with your child post-placement.
Contesting Adoption
As a legal birth parent, you also have the right to content the adoption. This can be a lengthy process that would be taken to court. We will want you to speak with our adoption specialists so we can have open and honest communication about all members of the party’s needs and wishes. At the end of the day, we want what is best suited for your child and to make the process as smooth as possible. Contesting adoption can be a draining and emotional process, so we want to ensure everyone knows the birth mother bill of rights.
Helping Determine Your Child’s Future with Adoption Choices of OK
At the end of the day, both of you determine the course of your child’s future. Having each other’s support can go a long way in helping your child be placed in a loving, welcoming, and nurturing environment. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we can help you both when it comes to the adoption process by creating a plan that suits everyone’s needs and providing both of you support. Placing your baby for adoption can be complex and emotional, so we want to ensure both of you are physically and emotionally supported.
Ready to take the next step together? Contact us today so we can help you get started.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma anda leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-201-6643 | Email