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District of Columbia

Who Must Consent:

• Both parents, if living.
• The court-appointed guardian.
• A licensed child placing agency if parental rights have been terminated.

Consent of Adoptee:
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.

When Relinquishment Can Be Signed:

• No relinquishment of rights can be made within the first 72 hours after a child's birth.
• The parent must first undergo counseling.

How Relinquishment Must Be Signed:
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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