Delaware Adoption Laws Page5

Adoption Laws in Delaware Page5

State haven laws for Infants

• Infant age : Statute: Title 16, - § 902
  • 14 days or younger child.

• Who may relinquish the infant : Statute : Title 16, - § 907A
  • Any human being who voluntarily delivers the infant unharmed.

• Who may receive the infant : Statute : Title 16, - § 907A
  • Emergency department of any hospital.

• Responsibilities of the safe haven provider : Statute : Title 16, - § 907A
  • Try to give the child's ID number to the person leaving the infant.
  • Take emergency protective custody of a child.
  • Provide to the person information about the Safe Arms program, adoption, and counseling services.
  • Make reasonable efforts to get the medical history of the child.
  • Notify the division and State police.

• Immunity for provider : Statute: Title 16, - § 908 Yes.

• Protection for relinquishing parent : Statute: Title 16, - § 907A; Title 11, - § 1102A
  • Any information collected is maintained as confidential data.
  • No more investigation is done unless there is evidence of abuse or neglect of the child, If the parent chooses to remain anonymous.
  • The parent may also remain anonymous.

• Effect on the parental rights : Statute : Title 16, - § 907A
  • Public notice is published by the division about a child has been abandoned and it contain following statement that the abandonment shall be:
    1. Within 30 days the surrendering person's irrevocable waiver of any right of notice unless the person manifests an intent to exercise parental rights.
    2. The surrendering person's irrevocable consent abut the termination of parental rights.