District of Columbia
District of ColumbiaWho Must Consent:
- Both parents, if living.
- The court-appointed guardian.
- A licensed child placing agency if parental rights have been terminated.
A child 14 years or older must consent to the adoption.
When Parental Consent is Not Needed:
When a parent:
- Cannot be located.
- Has abandoned the child.
- Has failed to support the child for at least 6 months.
- Has relinquished all rights to an agency.
- No relinquishment of rights can be made within the first 72 hours after a child's birth.
- The parent must first undergo counseling.
Consent must be executed before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, or a representative of a child-placing agency or the Mayor's office.
Time for Revocation:
Any voluntary relinquishment may be automatically revoked by a verified writing submitted to the agency within 10 calendar days.
• Glossary of Terms
• Legal Considerations in Adoption
• Parental Rights
• Putative Father Registries: What They Are and How To Use Them
• Resources for Expectant/Placing Parents
Relinquishment Summaries by State: Index
Source: National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. Reprinted with permission.
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