FAQs for a Birth Father in Oklahoma Adoption

If you are a birth father in the adoption process in Oklahoma, you probably have a number of questions about your place in your child’s adoption. You may be wondering what rights you have as the birth father or if you will be able to remain in contact with your child and the adoptive family. While we all want what is best for the birth mother and child, we understand that you may have some important concerns as well. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we understand that the adoption process often involves more than just the birth mother and child. We are here to work with everyone involved in the adoption process to create an adoption plan that works for the child, birth mother, and birth father. If you are a birth father in the adoption process in Oklahoma, we encourage you to read the following FAQs to learn more about your role in your child’s adoption.

What Are My Rights as a Birth Father in an Oklahoma Adoption?

Paternity laws and rights of birth father generally vary from state to state, but there are a few rights that you are guaranteed as a birth father in Oklahoma. In most cases, both the birth father and mother are required to consent to their child’s adoption, so you do have a right to object to the adoption. However, adoption without the birth father’s consent is still possible if the father is unknown or absent.

If you are a birth father in Oklahoma interested in pursuing a legal case against your child’s adoption, we encourage you to contact a certified adoption lawyer. While Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is here to work with you, our advice is by no means one-size-fits-all, as each case is unique and may involve different requirements.

Will I be Responsible for Medical Fees or Child Support as a Birth Father in Oklahoma?

As a birth father involved in the adoption process in Oklahoma, you will not be responsible for any fees associated with the pregnancy or adoption. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we are proud to offer our birth parents in need with a variety of financial assistance, including rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, and other pregnancy-related expenses.

This also means that you will not be responsible for paying child support. Once your child is placed with the adoptive family and you have signed away your parental rights as the birth father, the adoptive family will be entirely responsible for raising and taking care of your child. If the birth mother decides not to pursue adoption the birth father will still be required to pay child support until the child is 18 years of age.

Can I Maintain Contact with My Child as a Birth Father in Oklahoma?

The short answer to this question is yes. You have the right as the birth father to remain in contact with your child and their adoptive family. The long answer is slightly more complicated, as it depends on the type of adoption you and the birth mother choose. If you decide to pursue an open adoption or an adoption arrangement where information is openly shared between birth and adoptive parents, you are still able to play an active role in your child’s life. However, this will not be possible in a closed adoption, as the adoption record will remain sealed and anonymous, and there will be no contact between you and the adoptive family.

Whether to keep your child’s adoption open or closed is an important decision that should be discussed carefully between the birth mother and father. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, our adoption counselors and caseworkers are here to help at any time if you are struggling to reach an agreement.

How Can I Support the Birth Mother as a Birth Father in an Oklahoma Adoption?

Simply asking this question as a birth father in Oklahoma is a great place to start. The most important thing is that you remain aware of how the birth mother may be feeling and any complicated emotions she may have for you or your child. Oftentimes, the best way to support the birth mother is to remind her that you are there for her, even if you are no longer in a relationship. This includes expressing your support of her decision to choose adoption, working with her to choose an adoptive family and create an adoption plan, and supporting her throughout pregnancy, delivery, and post-placement.

If you or the birth mother are struggling with any difficult emotions surrounding your child’s adoption, our adoption counselors at Adoption Choices of Oklahoma are here to help you at any point in your adoption process. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you want to try individual or group sessions.

What Will You Look Like as a Birth Father in Oklahoma?

At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we understand that adoption can be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. However, our adoption counselors and caseworkers are here for you along every step of your adoption journey, whether you are a birth mother or father. We are here to work with you to create a plan that works for everyone involved in your adoption process, including the child, birth mother, and birth father.

Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. 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: 405-310-8790 | Email

Meet the Author: Jennie Knuppel is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying English Literature. She is currently enrolled in the English Honors Program, for which she is writing a thesis in comparative literature prior to graduating in the spring of 2022. Jennie has previously taken courses in literature and both creative and technical writing, and she spent four years working in her high school’s journalism department.