Minnesota Adoption Laws Page5

Adoption Laws in Minnesota Page5

State haven laws for Infants

• Infant age : Statute: § 145.902; 609.3785
  • 72 hours old or below.
  • Child must be uninjured or unharmed.

• Who may relinquish the infant : Statute: § 609.3785
  • Mother.
  • A person approved by the mother.

• Who may receive the infant : Statute: §§ 145.902; 609.3785
  • Employee working at a licensed hospital only.

• Responsibilities of the safe haven provider : Statute: § 145.902
  • May ask about mother or child's medical history.
  • Contact information may be provided for the social services department.
  • Within 24 hours must inform the local welfare agency.

• Immunity for provider : Statute: § 145.902

• Protection for relinquishing parent : Statute: § 145.902; 609.3785
  • No prosecution for leaving an infant.
  • Need not to provide any information.

• Effect on the parental rights : Statute : § 260C.217
  • The agency is not required to reunify the child with the parent.
  • The local social service agency takes child's custody.