What are Your Rights as a Birth Mother in Missouri?
Are you an expectant mother living in Missouri? Have you made the decision to place your baby for adoption in your state? If you answered yes to either of these questions, chances are you might be wondering what your rights as a birth mother in Missouri are. Some birth mother rights vary between states, so a few of the following will be unique to your state of Missouri. If you have any further questions about your rights, Adoption Choices of Missouri is happy to help answer those for you.
The Right to Change Your Mind
Placing your baby for adoption is an emotional and life-changing decision. While we do recommend doing everything you can to make a confident and informed choice, there remains the possibility that you might change your mind. If you should change your mind about placing your baby for adoption, you have the right to keep your legal rights to your child and to inform our adoption agency of your decision.
In Missouri, you have up until 48 hours after your child’s birth to legally change your mind. However, please keep in mind that changing your mind this late will impact not only you and your child’s life, but the lives of your adoptive family as well.
The Right to Create Your Own Adoption Plan
You will be in charge of creating your own adoption plan. Your adoption caseworker will be there to support you throughout this process. Your adoption plan will include details about your adoptive family, your hospital and birth plans, the type of adoption you want and what kind of communication you will maintain with your adoptive family throughout your pregnancy. This plan is meant to eliminate any surprises during your adoption journey and to help you feel prepared and safe.
The Right to Make Your Plan Without the Birth Father
Depending on your own unique situation, it might be possible to move forward in the adoption process without the consent of the birth father. Usually, this option is reserved for cases in which the birth father is unknown, uninvolved or unsupportive. Our adoption agency will help you determine what move best fits into your adoption plan in this regard.
The Right to Choose Your Adoptive Family
The right to choose your child’s adoptive family rests with you. You will still have the support of your adoption caseworker who can assist you throughout this emotional decision-making process. Before selecting an adoptive family for your child, you will have the opportunity to browse potential family’s portfolios, speak to them on the phone and meet them in-person. If at any point during this process you wish to change your selection, that will always remain an option for you.
The Right to an Attorney and Covered Legal Fees
In order to make an adoption final, a judge will need your consent to end your legal parental rights to your child. At this point, your adoptive family will become the legal guardians of your child. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, your legal fees during this finalization process will be covered. You will also have the option of selecting to have an attorney appear in front of the judge rather than yourself.
What are Your Rights as a Birth Mother in Missouri?
These are some of your basic rights as a birth mother in your state of Missouri. Adoption Choices of Missouri is able to help you better understand your rights and to make you feel supported. Our goal is to help you stay informed and prepared as you proceed through your adoption journey.
Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800
Meet the Author: Molly Doyle is a native San Franciscan, Molly is an experienced educator and a dedicated writer. She holds her multiple subject teaching credential as well as her Masters of Arts in Teaching. When not teaching children or creating new written pieces, Molly can be found kicking around a soccer ball, going for urban hikes or whipping up a fruit pie.
She currently lives in Seattle, her first home outside of California.