District of Columbia Adoption Laws Page1

Adoption Laws in District of Columbia Page1

About adoption consent

• For whom it is must to consent to adoption : Statute : - § 16-304
  • The court appointed guardian
  • Both parents, if living
  • Licensed child placing agency after parental rights termination

• Age required of an adoptee to consent of adoptee: Statute : - § 16-304

  A child of age 14 years or more than that should provide a written consent to the adoption.

• No need of parental consent: Statute: - § 16-304
  • When the parent has failed to support the child for the 6 months
  • When the parent has abandoned the child
  • When the parent has relinquished all rights to an agency
  • When the parent cannot be located

• Execution of consent: Statute : - § 4-1406(b)
  • First the parent need to undergo counseling.
  • Within the first 72 hours after a child's birth, no relinquishment of rights can be made.

• Consent execution is must: Statute : - § 16-304
  • Consent must be executed before a representative of a child-placing agency, officer authorized to take acknowledgments, or the Mayor's office.

• Consent revocation : Statute : - § 4-1406(c)
  • A verified writing submitted to agency within 10 days, any voluntary relinquishment may be automatically revoked.