Can an Adoption be Reversed?
Contrary to what some may believe, there are ways in which a finalized adoption can be reversed. Once an adoption has been finalized, if one party wants to reverse the adoption, he or she needs to submit a petition to the court – this is often done by either the child’s birth parents or the child’s adoptive parents. While a reversal is possible, the laws regarding this process are very strict. Once the adoption has been reversed, the child’s birth certificate is changed to reflect its original state before the adoption.
Which Parties Can Reverse an Adoption?
There are three parties in an adoption situation who can reverse a finalized adoption, and they include the following:
The Child’s Birth Parents – If the child’s birth parents want to reverse an adoption and regain their parental rights, the adoptive parents need to give consent for the reversal. In some U.S. states, however, even if consent is given by the adoptive parents, the birth parents’ parental rights cannot be restored.
The Child’s Adoptive Parents – In the rarer case that the child’s adoptive parents want to reverse the adoption, they need to prove to the court that dissolving the adoption is within the child’s best interests. This may occur if the child and the adoptive parents have not been able to form a positive relationship.
The Child – There are several circumstances where a child may wish to have his or her adoption reversed. In some cases, the child wants to be emancipated from his or her adoptive parents, but more often, a child reversing his or her adoption happens later in life due to failed relationships with his or her adoptive parents.
When Can Consent to an Adoption be Reversed?
When a party consents to an adoption, the petition for adoption needs to be clear and concise for it to be finalized. There are certain situations, however, where consent given for an adoption can be revoked even after it has been finalized. Those situations include the following:
Best Interests of the Child – When a child is adopted but the court finds the child would better benefit from having the adoption revoked, it will grant the revocation.
Fraud or Duress – If consent for adoption was given fraudulently or while the consenting party was under duress, the consent is automatically considered null and void.
Timeframe of Refusal – There is a small window of time available for birth parents to change their minds about giving consent for their child’s adoption.
I took a child in at the age of 21 b/c she was in a very bad situation. I was under the impression that she would go back to her parents but that did not happen. I put my whole life on hold to care for a child that I didnt know but grew to love. I am now 26 and It seems like I was pressured into adopting her by the state. They gave me a time frame to let them know what I wanted to do as well as told me that If i didnt she would be posted state wide. I was nervous about letting her go to a new home without knowing who she would end up with so I went through with the adoption. I really in truly DO NOT WANT this child. I am TIRED of taking care of someone else child and I havent had a chance to live my own life. I want to reverse my adoption and let her go with a family that is more established and willing.
I decided to put my now 6 year old child up for adoption to a best friend and her husband 6 years ago. We all agreed i would be able to see the child whenever I wanted. I was under the impression that this was an open adoption and that their lawyer whom I set them up with knew this. Come to find out after the adoption was finalized there’s no such law in Alabama as open or closed adoption. After it was finalized my so called best friend and husband would no longer let me see or have anything g to do with the child. I do want to get her back for a lot of reasons. But if that’s not possible would it be possible to get any type of visitation rights set up through the court? I just want her to have a relationship with her sister so is 7. And also myself . The adoptive parents are now divorced and the adoptive mother does not have custody of the child anymore. Is there anything g I can do to get her back or even get some kind of visitation rights pictures letters or even give her gifts?
My best friend is in that same boat as you. She was 18 when she had a baby girl and because she could not afford to take care of her, so she put her up for adoption with an open adoption agency (they were terrible, never use Child’s Dream Adoption) but nonetheless she went through the process and thought she was handing her baby over to a beautiful married female couple. Turns out, she was wrong in sooo many ways! My friend was under the impression that their agreement stated she would get all the updates of how her daughter is doing, would be able to visit them in Arizona often, would be able to video chat and talk to her baby…. The day she gave birth, she got 1 day and night to spend with my baby alone. The next day, the couple drove up from Arizona (she lives in Vegas so it was the main reason for choosing them); they met her gorgeous daughter and everything was fine for the 2nd and 3rd day, then on the 3rd day; it was time to sign the papers and thing started getting suspicious. They were going behimd closed doors with not only the agency but also with the lawyer especially after the papers were signed. The next day, she said goodbye to her little one and put her in a van because the couple said they were going to stay in a townhouse in Henderson, NV for a month or 2. Welp, about a week later; my friend called the couple to ask her if she could visit them in Henderson; she got rejected because they had friends visiting. So she understood and just said okay. Then 3weeks went by since the departure to give them time to settle in and everything and so she asked again, only this time they responded saying they were already back in Arizona so she never got to say goodbye to her baby forreal! After that, for the first few months, they were really good at keeping their promise to do updates so my friend was happy. This lasted for about a year, then they started only updating every few months with just a couple of pictures. After about a year and a half, my friend texted the couple to see if she could come down to Arizona to spend the weekend with her. You know what they said? “We moved to New Jersey about a month ago.” She cried hysterically for 3hrs straight because she knew nothing about this but she took it like a champ. Because of the long distance, she couldnt get out to see her and the updates got lesser and lesser. Every time she’d ask if could come up to visit her (she just wanted to hear their response); they would always make up the excuse that their not in town or family was going to be with them. Every time she asked to video chat, they never responded back. And now, almost 4yrs since her baby’s birth; she never gets an update unless she’s messaging them first and it’s on a holiday. She probably got a total of 50 pictures & videos combined of her child in 2019 and they were nails and teeth to get because if she didnt message them ever, they would never send anything!
I know this because i was there through it ALL; the crying, the depression, the happy moments, and the confused moment. I witnessed it all!!
I adopted my brothers 2 daughters in 2018. Sometimes he says he going to take me to court and get them back. Can he do that.
I adopted my brother’s 3 grandchildren 10 years ago, at the mother’s request because they were to be split up and adopted into separate families. I gladly took them. They were 31/2, 2 and 14 months. From the moment they arrived they were rascals, tearing things up. I was 55 years old at the time. I constantly had trouble with the oldest. She does not take “no” for an answer. We had raging tantrums. We were in family counseling for 8 years. Things continues to escalate with her until last year when she attempted suicide. She spent some time away and my daughters and I realize our house is happier without her. She badly wants to live with her birth mother, who has lied to her and made her believe I actually stole the girls from her. I fought for her but even after a year she still is not happy. I would like to give her freedom to go with her birth mother but I’m not sure her mother is still interested. Is it possible to reverse her adoption quietly without a lot of court proceedings? I would like to keep it as quiet as possible. I love her enough to let her go if that is what she wants, and I’m positive it is.
i signed over my rights under deuress. my lawyer said i had no choice.i didnt know there was a time frame to change my mind.my sister has my kids. but she has a husband that she failed to mention to cps. he has a family violence history and he does drugs.can the adoption be reversed? can i get them or can another relative get them?what is the process?
I’m 16 and have a adopted father, who never speaks to me we haven’t spoken in 7+ months, he doesn’t treat me like his child, he’s threatening, and isn’t right to be a father. My mother is about to divorce him so is there anyway I can get my adoption reversed, and if it does what will happen to my life and my name, who gets full custody of me and what will my name change to, what it originally was or what my parents is?
This is something you are going to need to discuss in detail with an attorney. Custody matters and adoptions often create a very confusing mix of rules and laws that must be applied. For example, if we take the whole ‘adoption’ portion out of your question (which, I know, is the main question to begin with), custody decisions are made based on what the best interests of a child are.
In your case, it would certainly seem that your mother is the best parent to do what is in your best interests (and a child representative / guardian ad litem would certainly be told that by you, and that person would inform the court).
Because the adoption is now involved, the court very likely could use a similar set of questions to make a determination as to who the full-time parent should be, and then ALSO transfer your case (a portion of it) to the local division that handles guardianship/adoption matters (likely a probate judge).
But, this is all going to vary wildly between the states, so you should connect with and speak with an experienced local attorney asap.
I gave up my daughter to adoption when me and the mother got divorced. My daughter is now 16yrs I gave her up to birthmother and new husband in adoption 8yrs ago. I regret everyday of what I did and I know I did it under a lot of stress from court and mother issues. Now I found my daughter on social media, thankfully she agreed to see me hiding form her mom and step dad. we spoke a lot of what happened and why I did what I did. She’s a bit confused of what happened between me and her mother but agrees that she loves me and wants to spend time with me. Ofcourse the mother found out and agreed to text with me, but now that me and my daughter want to see each other and we do it behind mothers back because she don’t agree for no good reason. I saw her today my daughter and mom called her immediately over the phone to know why she was taking so long to come back for a little liquor store down the corner from their house, I spend 2mins when mom called her to get home right away. after I left I texted my baby to check on her and she said her mom told her that she couldn’t see me until she was 18yrs old. my daughter insist on askin her mom WHY I cant see my birthfather and all she told me her mom says is “because” nothing else. What can I do to be able to see my daughter? I want to spend time with her she is 16yrs old she loves me and I love her as much and more.
please let me know
thanks
Hi I had a baby 5 months ago…. I don’t tell any body and wanted her adopted … if signed the adoption papers but it hasn’t yet been to court…. my heads been a mess but now if had time to take it all in and think about I want my little girl back … is they anyway I can stop this.. thanks
We adopted our son from a woman who adopted him and brought him to the USA from Russia. That was 10 long years ago he only lived with the first family for 6 weeks and they disrupted the adoption. We adopted him not knowing he had deep issues. We felt sorry for this little 5 year old who needed a family but it has not been an easy go. He is now 15 lies, steal ( a lot) and the list gets worse and is long. Is there anything we can do to terminate our rights and not be responsible for him any longer ? We have other children older and one younger and we don’t want the courts in our lives we are just so tired. Legally in New York what are our options? And is this an expensive court process?
Reversing an adoption is a process that essentially requires the courts to determine what is in the child’s best interests. Most courts require more proof than that a relationship is no longer working out; there must be clear evidence that the relationship is so bad, that it doesn’t benefit the child by staying with you – that it is actually harmful if the child were to stay with the adopted family. The courts view an adoptive relationship the same as if it was your biological child (that’s the idea, at least), so think about what that means when trying to reverse it: you are telling the court, “this is my child, and I no longer can handle them and want someone else to take care of them.”
Obviously this is not what is exactly happening in your house, but this is a blunt way of thinking about it from strictly a legal standpoint.
The courts will likely treat this situation not as a reversal of an adoption, but as putting a child up for adoption instead. The reasoning behind this is that the courts often will “not take a child back into state custody to avoid parental responsibility.” That’s the wording courts use a lot of the time.
This sounds like an extremely difficult decision, and you have had the child for a decade – speak with therapists and anyone else that can help provide counsel for your family and the child and then speak with an attorney that specializes in adoption as well as an adoption agency that might specialize in what is called “second chance adoptions” to get the help that you and this child needs. Best of luck, we hope that tings work out well for all of you, and remember, when talking about the law in difficult emotion situations like this, sometimes the emotions need to be left at the door to give the case an unbiased look – its not that people are uncaring to your plight, but that the law requires that type of analysis.
Mr Baker, I’m 37 years old. I was told that I can “vacate adoption” from my stepfather, which took place in Illinois and have my original birth certificate (Illinois) reinstated. I was told I have to fill out the legal form to do this, but have not found this form nowhere. Any advice where I’d find it?
You made to Decision to care for him for 10 years! Just too abandoned him now. Since he getting in trouble, and too hard to handle. He’s a teenager going throw so much emotions, especially dealing with issues. Like trying too understand, how two people before him didn’t want him. Now here you are 10 years later doing the same thing. You can’t just take in a kid, just to give him up when it’s too much trouble. When you adopted him you sign up to be his parent through everything. You sign up to be his parent. Giving up is only going to traumatize this kid into thinking he isn’t loveable. Think about the kid you adopted, not yourself.
As a mother of an adopted 10 year old who we’ve had for 8 years, and who are going through the exact hell as the mother asking the question, I can sware that she is THINKING ABOUT THE CHILD. How on earth is it healthy for him to stay in a home with parents who aren’t capable of meeting his needs?! Would you ask a birth parent considering the same dilemma this question? I doubt it. This is not an easy issue and as an adoptive mother, believe me, you are thinking about the childs needs at this point. Not your own. I’ve never met a selfish adoptive parent. Ever.
I signed the rights to my son away after getting into the limelight of family services and then getting into legal problems of my own. His mother and myself chose to sign away our rights. So his grandma and grandpa on his mother’s side adopted him and now he is getting ready to be 12 and they were having problems with him and contacted me because he wanted to come live with me. It turns out that being with me has really help his behavior problems that he was having gotten a lot better. His grandparents want me to adopt him and have my rights back. I live in Missouri. Is this something that can be done? With them willfully doing this and the fact that it really is a better place for him because he mines and does his school work. He wants to live with me as well and actually he has already been staying with me for a couple of weeks. Any info on what I need to do would be very helpful. Thanks
Hi. I have 2 daughters that were adopted my my mom and step dad. My youngest daughter was a blackmail to sign over, children n youth took my son and courts said if I sign over my daughter to my parents they would give my son back or they would fight me and tack on aggravated circumstance so I would never have custody of my kids or future kids. So of course I signed and got my son back. But 2 weeks before my son came home my parents took me to court to adopt my daughter that’s now12. Her father had a 2 year PFA on him due to threatening to kill our daughter to hurt me. He said he would wait till the PFA was up to even see his daughter. So fear of him trying to get her while I was dealing with children n youth and him winning I signed my rights over to my parents and they took his rights, he never even showed up. Well my parents did a PAC agreement so they couldnt just take her away from me. Well by the first overnight I found out they told her if she lived with me that I would take her away n she wouldn’t see any of them again so that made her want to live with them and she said that in court. Well soon as adoption went through everything changed. They treat her like crap. She messages me all the time about hating her life and wanting to die. I’m afraid if she doesn’t come back home what could happen to her. She tells me how she sees my step dad slamming my mom into the walls. Put her down all the time, and even uses me as a threat. Saying if she doesn’t do what they say she wont see me.. if been trying to save money for an attorney and whatever fees for filing stuff etc so it’s taken me alittle bit. I’m currently getting a bigger place so she will have her own room, it will be in her school district so I wont be changing her normal life. What makes matters worse is for some reason they wont let me get my younger daughter. They let me have my oldest but not youngest. So that little girl everytime I get my oldest stands in the window crying mommy as she watches her brother n sister go with her mommy and shes not aloud. They are messing that little girl up emotionally with that. I have full custody of my son he lives with me. N he rarely sees his middle sister but sees his older sister every other weekend except summers its every other week. It makes no sense why they would allow one child but not the other…. but it’s been 2 years since adoption. Is there a chance to get her back and would they take her thought in consideration since she will be 13 soon. Please let me no what you think… thanks
Can a biological father reverse a finalized adoption if he knew nothing about it and takes a paternity test?
This depends entirely on the state. Notice has to be provided to everyone who has a lawsuit filed against them – this is normally done through the serving of a summons and a complaint/petition to the person via the sheriff or a special process server. The point is to give the person the opportunity to appear and state their claim or defend themselves.
This is the case in family law matters as well as other types of cases.
In family matters, like adoption, child custody, divorce, etc., it sometimes is impossible to locate a person. When this happens, an individual may be able to go through a process called “service by publication.” Publication means that a small classified ad will run for a set period of time in a newspaper (frequently it is run in a lawyer paper that virtually no one ever sees) to satisfy the statutory ‘notice’ requirement.
To have a publication be good enough to constitute service, a person needs to show proof that there was no way to find the person – skip traces from a private eye, facebook searches, etc. It should be almost impossible to find the person for publication to be valid.
Once publication is done, the court can hold the person in default, meaning they can’t be found, they are considered to have been given notice, and the case can proceed without them.
The problem with adoption and this process, if allowed (every state is different, remember), is that a biological parents rights have now been taken away forever through adoption. Court’s do not take this lightly, and without consent, it is possible, in some states, that problems could arise. Extra care needs to be taken in these situations to ensure a nightmare scenario doesn’t come up in 5-years and for that, a local attorney experienced in adoption is necessary to review the facts and the law and get things done the correct way.
During the last months my pregnancy I told my mom that I was expecting. From that point on I received discouragement from her . She told me that she wouldn’t help me and that I couldn’t stay with her if I decide to keep my child and at that time it was the only place that I had. She promised that I wouldn’t be successful and she refused to show me any type of support towards keeping my child, she only wanted me to give him away. I expressed to her on numerous occasions that I wanted to keep my child but the only response I received was a cold and heartless one with the threat of being out of of her home and I’m only 16, I didn’t have any other options. She continuously pushed me to move forward with the adoption plan although I didn’t want to. Is there any way that I can reverse the adoption, or gain back my parental rights.
Hey i have 5 kids im in chicago il i signed my rights due to me going to prison over to their cousin on the father side i was told if i sign my rights over she will let me get my kids and they can come live with me and if i dont my kids are in the stage of being adopted by an unknown family and they will be separated so i did what was best for my kids at that time its been a few years ago i was wondering im Chicago il can i get the adoption reversed
So when I was 19 I was pregnant, father passed, bouncing from home to home, sleeping around, etc. I wasn’t in the right state of mind for a child so I ended up putting my kid up for adoption. The “supposed father” never showed for court, it’s like he went ghost, so no paternity test, so the adoption was finalized. Fast forward to now basically 3 years (the baby just turned 3), I’m in my own home and living a much better and safer life. I even reconnected with a old friend. We began talking and I was telling him about what I was going through and my adoption and how hard it was for me. He went on to say that he knows the kid I gave up was his. We did have sex often unprotected. He said the time frame add up completely and he has a gut feeling about it. He went on to say how he’s hurt, and can’t believe he’s been out of his child life for about 3years now because of me. I didn’t know that he had a chance to be the father at the time because last time we had sex, I was bleeding the next day. I thought it was a period, doctors and nurse told me year later that bleeding is completely normal until tissue is passed . So when I slept with the “supposed father” I was still already pregnant and didn’t know. I have the real father here blowing up my phone talking about go to court and going to take a paternity test. He said that he knew nothing about the adoption and said he’s willing to do everything to get her back. If he’s the father, I feel bad because he’s a good man and a great father already, this would be his first daughter and he’s devastated. What can he do? He says he still and will always have right as a biological father. I don’t know. Can someone help answer because this is stressing and I want to help as much as I can. He says he’ll go to court and do everything, take the test and all that. So what can a biological father do when he wasn’t notified nor had a chance in court and want to be active in his daughter life ?
You
My ex’s family took our children, we was never married. He signed over his parental rights but I got a lawyer && chose to fight for my babies. I found out a month before court I was pregnant with my boyfriends baby. Once my ex’s family found out I was pregnant they started harassing me and threatening me to sign the papers. I refused and continued with the petition to take my children back, about 2 days before court his mom caused me to be evicted from my home, ensuring I would be homeless (staying with friends) at the time of court. His brother told me he would shoot me before I left the courtroom if I won. Out of fear for my unborn baby and myself’s life I signed the papers. At first they allowed me to be in my kids’ life and then decided I couldn’t see my babies anymore. It’s been 7 years, if I see my children in public they allow hugs and short visits but will not allow me to spend any time with my kids even tho before I got a lawyer the agreement was they would never take my kids from me if I’d just sign the adoption papers. My daughter whom is now 12 has contacted me via social media privately and has told me that her adopted parents will not get her the correct medical attention for her disorders (anxiety, depression, adhd, bipolar etc) nor will they take her to the dentist, she needs corrective lenses which they refuse to get for her and they mentally, verbally and emotionally attack and abuse her. She says she wants to come live with me and her siblings but I’m afraid there is nothing I can do, due to the adoption. If there is anything I can do to ensure my child is not neglected please let me know. I really just want to bring my child home. Her father lives less than 3 blocks from her and has nothing to do with her. Her brother has a lot of mental issues as well and is being medically neglected. I really need to know if there is anything I can possibly do. My daughter is very distraught && miserable, I am in fear for her wellbeing and safety.
This sounds like a tragic situation, and one that is more than a little difficult to overcome. Being that you signed over adoption papers, it will be difficult for a court to look a the situation and stresses that you were put under so many years ago and determine that coercion took place.
As far as attempting to get some kind of visitation with the kids, that is possibly a different scenario altogether and one that should first be explored.
As you can imagine, courts do not like a situation where you have had extremely limited time with the kids for years now, and now expect to just have the kids tossed over to you, which is a huge change for the kids (and an abrupt change for kids, unless life or serious health issues are on the line) and not one that courts generally like to do.
Speak with one of our experienced family law attorneys and see if your state has some remedies available for at least obtaining some initial visitation with the kids and then the possibility of reversing the process. There are a lot of factors that go into this, and honestly, most of the details you mention (possible coercion, threats, etc.) are tings you should not focus on here – those are probably distractions and not things that will get you the relief you seek (it’s difficult to hear this, I’m sure, but you have to move past what happened years ago and focus on right now and moving forward).
So when I was 19 I was pregnant, father passed, bouncing from home to home, sleeping around, etc. I wasn’t in the right state of mind for a child so I ended up putting my kid up for adoption. The “supposed father” never showed for court, it’s like he went ghost, so no paternity test, so the adoption was finalized. Fast forward to now basically 3 years (the baby just turned 3), I’m in my own home and living a much better and safer life. I even reconnected with a old friend. We began talking and I was telling him about what I was going through and my adoption and how hard it was for me. He went on to say that he knows the kid I gave up was his. We did have sex often unprotected. He said the time frame add up completely and he has a gut feeling about it. He went on to say how he’s hurt, and can’t believe he’s been out of his child life for about 3years now because of me. I didn’t know that he had a chance to be the father at the time because last time we had sex, I was bleeding the next day. I thought it was a period, doctors and nurse told me year later that bleeding is completely normal until tissue is passed . So when I slept with the “supposed father” I was still already pregnant and didn’t know. I have the real father here blowing up my phone talking about go to court and going to take a paternity test. He said that he knew nothing about the adoption and said he’s willing to do everything to get her back. If he’s the father, I feel bad because he’s a good man and a great father already, this would be his first daughter and he’s devastated. What can he do? He says he still and will always have right as a biological father. I don’t know. Can someone help answer because this is stressing and I want to help as much as I can. He says he’ll go to court and do everything, take the test and all that. So what can a biological father do when he wasn’t notified nor had a chance in court and want to be active in his daughter life ?
my first child was taken from me as my partner (my little ones dad) at the time got put inside for imitation of a firearm with intent, so social was informed and my social worker was very nasty and applied to the court to put me and my son in a foster placement away miles away from my support system at that time my grandma and my mother were both in unwell and i thought that my grandma wouldn’t make it . so i had to move away two weeks before Christmas when i didn’t know how long i was going to be away for or nothing i under went a parenting assessment to see if i could parent my son and they said that this would only go on for six weeks at the end of the assessment social said i was not fit enough to parent on my own. anyway my son got adopted and since then i have had another son got my own house and a steady relationship i feel i wasn’t treated right and would like to know where i stand on getting my first son back in my custody.
Hey so my question is when i was being adopted by a close friend of minds pearnts i was in a lot of distress and felt very pressered. my mother an alcholic signed away her parental rights but she was drunk and my adoptive pearnts promised to buy her a case of beer. me and my sister are now looking to reverse my adoption is this possible still after ive been with my adoptive paernts for 2 years.
This sounds like all kinds of levels of abuse. Contact our team as well as your caseworker, assuming you still have one that you are in contact with and find out what rights are available. Here is a list of agencies to contact, depending on your state:
Links:
1. Child Welfare Information gateway – HHS
2. HHS Adoption Help by State
thank you for trying to help but we have been told that there is no possible way to get it reversed if i am not being physically abused or can get them to sign over rights which they will not do i have done all this without there knowledge and can’t let them find out so i am afraid i am stuck no matter the emotional abuse
I’m an adopted child and I am wanting to undo the adoption. The foster mom and I don’t get along at all. And I want to live with either my biological dad or a new family I’m tired of hurting here I’m not being abused or anything I’m just not the right fit for them. I have a brother and sister with me but I hate that I’m wanting to leave them. But I feel that’s the best option for me. Or if I can’t I feel like I would drive myself to killing myself. Or being in and out of hospitals. Or in and out of jail.
I can’t leave here no more. I would rather be in foster homes then leave here. I just want to leave ASAP !! Is there any way u think I can undo it?
I was adopted as a teenager by my mother’s husband. The relationship ended (he abused drugs/alcohol and threatened to kill us all) in 2012 when my mother fled while he was at work one day. I haven’t had contact with him since before she left. Is there a way to have the adoption reversed? I’m an adult in my 30s and don’t want to have any ties to him whatsoever.
My friend adopted his wife grandkids to use his GI Bill only during there marriage .He’s in the process of separation/divorce His wife is requesting for him to pay child support and health insurance for kids that has never lived with them or taken care of.The grandchildren they adopted still live with there mom and she takes care of them . What should he do?
Me and my little sister were placed into foster care when I was 10 years of age. We were split up and she was adopted when I turned 14. I am now 22 almost 23 and I’m trying to figure out how I can get custody of my sister. she reports to me about being verbally abused and emotionally neglected and just states that she wants to be with her blood family. I am older and more financially stable since being married is there anything I can do or anyway I can reverse the adoption?
I adopted my nephew last year (2019) and everything was going great until I was diagnosed with yet another medical illness and it began to take its toll on my body. I have not been able to work due to my medical Illnesses and would like to know how can I reverse adoption because at this point I feel it’s in the best interest of my nephew to be with someone that could better take care of him financially. He requires a lot of attention as his aggression progress. I do have two other children but their father help me with them. He has a older sibling that would love to gain custody of him, I would like to know if that’s possible and if so how can we get started with the necessary steps to get her custody?
I’m in a situation where my partner and I adopted a sibling set of 3. The oldest is 7 and we have had her since she was 2. She had some behavioral issues when she came to us (cursing, hitting) we thought she would outgrow some but no she lies and steals. She told lies on myself and my partner to the school and CPS came out. While case is open she lied again when she didn’t get her way and now another case is open. I’m a licensed mental health provider and my partner and I do not discipline put kids with physical punishment. She has told the school that we hit her and beat her and both times the CPS worker saw no bruises or anything. Then she lies and said she never told teachers that. I always believe she wasn’t a good fit because of behaviors I’m aware of but feel she is getting worse and my partner and I feel stuck because she is teaching certain habits to her younger siblings.
My fiances 5 children were taken from her a few years ago. Her ex husband left while she was asleep and they got on a roof cos took them. She since had a new baby cyf cos was involved and confirmed she is fit to raise the child. The system was messed up earlier with the 5 children and stole them from her. The pain is everyday of missing them. It is not fair it is not right. Is there any possible way to get these children where they belong. I will fight to the end to do all i can as they need to be back in the arms of their mother. All the court hearings and everything were messed up as they fired a woman that said she was definitely fit to keep her children.
I was talked into signing papers with my soon to be ex wife to adopt her cousins child when (my soon to be wx wifes biological mother)passed away while taking care of the child. The marriage went sour over the years. She then put me out of her apartment and expected me to pay bills for her and myself because she refused to find employment for years and spends his social security checks on things not pertaining to the childs needs. How can I terminate my parental rights to and adopted child.
Depending on the state, this may not be an option. The courts, many times, view your relationship with this child in virtually the same manner as if it was your biological child. The more pressing matter here is getting things in order to limit the amount of maintenance (ie. alimony or spousal support) that you could be ordered to pay. A lot of different things go into calculating this depending on where you live.
Primarily, the main factors (again, varies state to state) for a determination of maintenance / alimony are as follows:
1. The income and property of each party, both the marital or non-marital property, and how that could/should be allocated between the parties;
2. The present and future earning capacity of each party;
3. The needs of each party;
4. Are there any impairments in the present or future earning of either party;
5. The standard of living during the marriage;
6. The duration of the marriage;
7. The health, age, occupation, education, skills, etc., of each party;
8. any valid agreement (ie. premarital agreement) the parties may have signed;
9. Other factors the Court finds relevant, just, and equitable under the specific circumstances of the case.
All of these factors need to be applied to your case to view your particular situation here. And if there is a way that you can help her stand on her own, that can alter things substantially as well because if she gets a decent job (maybe with help from you even), that can limit or cut off potential maintenance (alimony) since she may be self-sufficient.
The only way to really dig into this is to sit down with an experienced divorce attorney and look at all the facts and circumstances of your case. Give our team a call.
I lost my parental rights in 2015 in Michigan due to a domestic violence incident! My children were adopted in 2017! Is there still a chance for me to try to overturn this adoption?
I’m in the state of TN. I was married 4 years ago and I’m going through a divorce because my husband was violent. He adopted my son. He is wanting to relinquish his rights to not pay child support. He’s making it out that he does not have the best interest for our son. Can he do this??
I have 4 adopted daughters. One of them is violent and it has become very unsafe for my other 3 children. Almost 3 yrs of counseling and medication and she is unable to bond with our family. She is currently inpatient due to threats against her sisters, is it possible to get our adoption of her reversed in order to protect the other children? Please help
These situations are some of the most difficult in the world. Each state differs on these issues in a pretty dramatic way. One potential issue you may need to keep in mind is when a possible investigation begins to verify all that you have mentioned and the reasons why this is necessary may not paint you in the best possible light – rather than looking out for the other kids safety, a state worker (if DCFS or similar entity is required to be involved – again, depends on the state), might say you aren’t fit to put in the work on this one child, why should you have the other kids.
Probably an unlikely scenario, but the crazies of situations occur and no one ever sees it coming. You need to connect with a local attorney who can dig in to the details of your case and the local statutes. Best of luck for your family.
So I lost custody of my baby girl at birth, 3 years ago.. the people that have TEMPORARY full custody have been good to my babies and myself included.!! I signed papers saying I would allow them to adopt my child, it hasnt been finalized in court YET!! Baby daddy all of a sudden decides he wants the baby and is fighting for custody. Hes never been around for her, helped with her, or tried to have a relationship with her the entire 3 yrs shes.been alive and breathing!?!? I’m wondering if it’s to late to cancel the adoption?? Help me plz
I made a big mistake. And I know that what’s best for my baby girl, isnt to be with him. She doesnt even know him!? I’m scared as hell.
Any info will help
This is a situation where you need an experienced child custody lawyer and an explanation of some relevant laws aren’t going to cut it. There really is no way around it. While the courts generally prefer that a child be placed with a biological parent (for obvious reasons), it’s not necessarily a guarantee in situations like yours. If the father has known all along about this child and has avoided all responsibility intentionally, that will be one of the deciding factors. But you need professional help here, you cannot do this alone.
So I lost custody of my baby girl at birth, 3 years ago.. the people that have TEMPORARY full custody have been good to my babies and myself included.!! I signed papers saying I would allow them to adopt my child, it hasnt been finalized in court YET!! Baby daddy all of a sudden decides he wants the baby and is fighting for custody. Hes never been around for her, helped with her, or tried to have a relationship with her the entire 3 yrs shes.been alive and breathing!?!? I’m wondering if it’s to late to cancel the adoption?? Help me plz
I made a big mistake. And I know that what’s best for my baby girl, isnt to be with him. She doesnt even know him!? I’m scared as hell.
Cps is now trying to force my termination of parents rights, they told my sister shed have to adopt them.but never let me see them or be alone with them ever again.. If my sister were to adopt them can she give them back to me or allow me to adopt them back from her once I finally become stable again. Cps has made me lose my job and a place due to it and my own PD waived my right to council at a team meeting without my permission and no lawyer wants to touch this case and I need help asap or advice
I would be extremely cautious about doing something with the kids if your sister is granted the adoption over them. Many times there will be explicit provisions that her rights could be terminated and reversed if she allows the children to spend time with a person in this case, you), that is specifically not allowed to have contact with the kids.
This could all blow up and mean that your sister can’t have the kids and they could become wards of the state – a truly terrifying situation.
Your best bet is to help ensure that your sister gets these kids and can care for them. Once you have gotten stable and have a proven track record of being stable (think more like a year or more, not a few weeks or a couple months, you can file a motion with the courts for some kind of 3rd party visitation with the kids.
But whatever you do, do not involve yourself in any way that could send these kids into the states custody instead with their family – step one of getting stable and proving you are a good parent again means staying away and not jeopardizing this for the kids for the time being.
I’m a 15 year old and I was adopted when I was 7. My adoptive parent and I have had a bad relationship even before I was adopted. Now at 15 very bad things have happened to me due to the fact that we argued all the time and that caused something ever traumatic. I can’t stand it anymore and I have to get out. What will I have to do in order for me to petition for my unadoption?
So very sorry that you are going through this terrible time. Without divulging too many details in such a public forum, I can say that you should reach out and give our team a call and discuss in detail what exactly is going on.
Of course, many people may read this and think. “every child fights with their parents – adoptive parents or biological,” but I also know that there are many instances where traumatic events do happen and in those situations, you deserve the respect, love, and help that a professional can assist you with ruing this difficult time.
Know that there are many options, counselors, and places to seek help.
I am begging and pleading for someone to please help me. My son was taken from my wrongfully. I was alienated and put through hell and railroaded beyond anything anyone should and could handle. Please someone just talk to me and show me some type of guidance.
i believe the children I had was taken wrongly, and the last 2 boys are suffering. How much would it cost to do this??
This all depends on the circumstances that led to the adoption and the current living situation/lifestyles of everyone – while keeping in mind that the court views the best interests of the children above all else.
If fraud was used to obtain the adoption, that is a big reason to bring this before the court. But if it is more of a bad decision remorse type situation, that is a different situation entirely.
Um if a child has been adopted out with out a consent from biological mother can that child be adoption reversal? At any time or how long does it get revoked
Yes, it may be possible. The first issue to consider is whether you have standing to bring a suit though. Standing means you have rights to go to court and have something done, like payment for medical expenses from someone crashing their car into you rear-bumper. Most states treat biological parents that have consented to adoption as no longer having any more rights to the child than a complete stranger. That is the first huge thing you have to prove.
The next would be to show that a big mistake was made – that the child is placed in a dangerous environment, that fraud was committed, that some circumstance has changed dramatically, or something similar.
An example would be a woman adopts a child, and then a year later married a convicted pedophile. That could maybe be reason to show the court that the child should not be in that home. However, the judge will make their decision on what he/she believes is “in the child’s best interests.” That is the primary analysis that is made by the court and it involves all kinds of factors (dozens, really).
Please I need help I’m in fl my children were taken due to up code of house codes but i did everything i was suppose too but i didn’t have a place yet so they tricked me into signing my rights to the g tdd and mother the problem is she never got them the judge ordered for them to g.j o on a certain date than they put a court order to stop it with a different judge and in one day they gave my kids to strangers UK can’t see or talk to them I was a good mom I made mistakes but none hurting my children I love them and need to know wat to do its killn me inside
My nephew and niece are paying a guardian to take care of their adopted son. I think they are planning to reverse their adoption in Mi. This child had been taken away from another and when the child started giving them emotional troubles they let their real mom see him on occasion after she stopped using drugs. She than rejected him.
Hi my name is anonymous my one year old son has been in Foster care since July the social worker has called me and my family names she came into my home split me and now my ex boyfriend up and then took our first born please help me are social services carupped, twisted gits, baby snatchers. ❤️❤️❤️👶❤️❤️❤️
Can I reverse an adoption of a child out of my wife’s first marriage.
The child is now 50 years old , and has not visited us for the last few years.
She has more contact with her real father who left her and her mother when she was 7 months old then with the adopted father .
If the child wanted it and the biological father wanted to adopt it is possible. It primarily depends on the reasoning though, as well, if everyone doesn’t agree to do this.
I live in Asheville nc and Dss made me give my rights over so the kids can get adoption the whole 4 years be for singing my right away was bad we did everything that they wanted us to do and still had to sign our right over to foster care and the kids any adopted yet but I was wondering there was any way to get my rights back if I can prove there was fal play in the whole case.
My children were in foster care, my oldest daughter adopted them3. The day the adoption was finalized, we all celebrated the family being reunited. Later that day me and the kids went home to my place, where they’ve been to this day… I recently went to visit my oldest daughter and noticed some mail with the kids name on it, and realized the she’s been getting income for them since 2011…. I didn’t know who to call r what to do… Something’s wrong, or illegal here. Help!!!!
Who was fostering the children, was it your daughter? Normally the person that is fostering the kids can receive payment from the state. So if that is the situation, it would be normal.
If I read that right your daughter adopted your children who were in her care via foster?
If that’s true and you all celebrated the family together again and you took the kids home as if they’re still yours then you are the one top acting illegally. Your daughter adopted them and she is to have them. Sounds like she’s still collecting their adoption subsidies as if she was caring for them still… as the judge and state ordered.
You all will get in trouble.
Hello my name is LaShelle Monique Smith and I’m currently dealing with a story similar these innocent parents as well as myself. My now 2 year old son has now been adopted and my 1 year old . To begin with my children was legally kidnapped by cps worker looking for bonuses and profits which they snatched my children. I still hold all the altered records from these caseworker and I’m still currently looking for a way to have the adoption reversed, because it was public corruption that took my rights in the first place. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
We live in Texas. My daughter had a baby boy July 17th of 2019. We started talking to agency about adoption, when she was about eight months pregnant. My daughter didn’t have a home or job and I was not able to take her into my home. She had a really ruff delivery. After hours of labor, she had to have a emergency C Section. She had lost so much blood, she was given a blood transfusion. The agency’s representative came to hospital with adoption paperwork. She said, a lawyer would be calling her to go over the adoption paperwork and told us, we would have to leave while she talked to the lawyer. I personally, found that to be very strange. We were allowed to return to the room, after the call ended. My daughter signed the papers and the agencies rep asked us to sign as witnesses. Within 24 hours, we contacted the agency representative and asked if the adoption could be stopped. The agency rep. told us, she gave up her rights to the baby and nothing could be done. We have cried many many tears, about not bringing that sweet baby home. My daughter has asked over and over, why within a 24 hour span, of signing those adoption papers that the adoption couldn’t be stopped. Is there anything we can do, to reverse the adoption in Texas. Looking back at the time she signed the adoption papers, I do believe she felt like she didn’t have a choice, since she had talked to a adoption agency. I don’t think any of us, were thinking clearly about what was happening. In fact, she had to stay in the hospital longer, due to loosing so much blood and very high blood pressure. She also signed, when she was having to alternate Hydrocodone and Ibeprophen to help with the C Section pain. Is there anything, we can do?
Here’s the case I’m the biological mother of my son who is adopted in another state since birth due to me not knowing who the father was. A potential father would like to see if he’s the father, if so he wants the son back and currently has an older son. He keeps running into the problem of how to go about the situation and if its even a possibility to get his son back he really cares about his kids and think it would be the best interest of the child to be with him and his older brother. the Child has been with the adoptive parents about months now and the potential father just found out. Biological parents reside in Oklahoma and child and adoptive Parents reside in Pennsylvania any information would help thank you!
I am wanting to know if a reversal is an option for me when I adopted my three daughters I was married and had two incomes however my now ex husband is serving 25 years in prison for 3 counts of sexual assault on a child an I just financially can not support these children on my own
Legally, the court views you as though you are biologically their mother. The problem here is where do these kids go? Dad is in prison, and it sounds like the biological mother either signed off and gave consent, or is gone. If the biological mother or family doesn’t want to adopt the kids, the kids could become wards of the state and end up being placed in foster care. You need to speak with local counsel to get into the specifics of a case complex like yours.
Kylie,shut up and don’t be so tunnel visioned.
Can a CO DHS adoption be reversed? The adoption was final in 2015. If so, how?
Too many details to go into on the internet, just need to know if this is possible.
Thank you
I would like to know if the adoption can be reversed by the birth father n r visition to c the his daughter
I live in Indiana. I made a huge mistake in giving up my parental rights up. Meaning I allowed my child to be adopted. I want my son back! I raised him for 9 years and he just turned 10. Please is there anyway I can get this reversed? What can I do?
I was adopted in 2017. I just turned 18 a couple of months ago. My adopted mother has a restraining order on me with lies. I need to know how to reverse the adopted so i can cut all ties to her. I dont want her being able to have anything of mine. When i was adopted she changed my name. She has my new social security card and refuses to give it to me. I got my birth certficate in the mail without a return address but i know it was from her. What do i do?
Is it too late for a child who, has been adopted for almost four years, to request to be taken out of the care/home of adopted parents because the relationship between child and parents just hasn’t worked out?
Kylie, I agree with Kipper. Until u know someones sitiation you can’t say that
As far as i know and I am a firm believer ” everyone deserves a second chance”.
I was lost in drug addiction for many years. A lot of time went by and many miss courts later my mother seems to be adoptions my 3 kids. (IN the process) I made a complete 180 on my life and now have a great paying job and my home situated is permanent and stable. I want my kids back and everyone including child services and the kids attorney are saying I cannot get my kids back. I’m a 31 year old man that’s repented 100% and I have no mental health issues or anything hendering from getting my kids back. PLEASE! I’m seeking counsel or help! If there’s a slight chance I WANT MY KIDS BACK!! Thank u…
Hello, my name is Brian, my son was born and adopted without my knowledge or consent, and I had made it clear to the mother from the beginning that if she did not want to keep the baby, that I would take him full time. I did not even get to meet him, and I would really like to raise my child, i believe i can give him the life he deserves, like my dad did for me. Do I even have a chance to get the adoption reversed?
How do I start the process to dissolve an adoption in Florida? I am the adoptive parent who can no longer meet the child’s needs. I was assaulted by the child, threatened, property damage, and the child speaks of suicide. The police threaten me with child abandonment if I don’t take him back in but it’s a ticking time bomb. I need help!
I need help reversing adoption I made a mistake by signing some paperwork and I want my son back
I have an odd one. I’m 50 yo. I became an emancipated minor at 16, and then authorized my own adoption to a young couple who took me in (certainly coerced and they actually weren’t that much older than me in the big picture). This was Seattle/King County court in 1985. In truly dramatic teenage fashion, I even changed my name and had the record sealed. I Haven’t seen or heard of these people in many years and started using my real name again in my early 20s.
I would love to nullify that adoption if it was easy to do. I honestly don’t know what the judge must have been thinking when he signed off on this. How feasible does this sound.
So the adoption was done in Jan of this year. The biological mother has had the son on an off for the last several months. The father was never giving notived of guardianship an then he lost his case cause he lacked somethings. What are Michigan laws on this and the adoptive mother leaving the child tmwith the biological mother for days on end? An how can this be healthy for the child
I am a child of adoption and I can attest that there are times when adoption is a good thing. If a child, however, is put in a home in which witchcraft has been done to them and I do mean WITCHCRAFT, an adult adopted child might want out of their situation. I would love for my adoption to be overturn. People who want to be parents ought to be given the right to raise them. If they are capable of loving someone else child. If they cannot love someone else’s child then do not destroy a child’s sense of self for a demon.
Can I do a reverse adoption in Virginia?
I adopted my step daughter and it’s been terrible ever since. How much does it cost to do this if my State allows it?
This depends on a lot of factors, such as what is the relationship with your wife – are you two now divorced? If still together, there could be options whereby the mother only becomes the guardian, but there needs to be some type of significant reasons for something like this, it sounds like it probably is not something that is possible in your case if we’re just talking about a bad situation with an unruly child.
Hiring a lawyer for these types of matters might cost a few thousand dollars, easily, and the chances to obtain the result you are looking for is probably quite slim, unfortunately. Really need to sit down with a local attorney to go over many more details.
My oldest son was taking from me due to the fact that a false report was reported to cys and I have a statement stating that it was not a cps case cuz the mount union school district elementary school nurse called and I ended up in prison for a crime that i didn’t commit as I was sitting in prison…it was never stated in court about adoption. I still have his original birth certificate and social security card . My now 12 son has autism. The quake dr that he sees puts things in head as well as the so called adoptive parents. The first foster family that he went with left their 12 year old daughter take my than 8 year son to the park and he was left there by him self for 3 hours. On all of my court documents as well as his fathers who is currently locked up we both feel like we were forced to give up our rights to our son who has 2 loving parents who love him and he is well taking care of . Can u plz helps us get the adoption reversed and get him back to me
Hello I need to reverse this adoption of my children whom was taking out of my custody and I was lied on by the doctor at the hospital and also Dcfs lied on me to take my rights away I never had a fair Trial
My two daughters and me and their daddy was done the exact same way
When DCFS is involved and parental rights are taken away, many states essentially treat the biological parent as a stranger, which means that they may not even have ‘standing’ to bring a case before the court. Standing is basically the courts way of determining: 1. a harm has or will be caused, 2. if action or stopping an action doesn’t take place, and 3. the harm to be avoided/stopped can be properly addressed before the court.
Many states may view you as not having standing to pursue a case because they no longer view you as any different from any other person in the world that wants to change who that child’s parent is, legally. That is your first hurdle (and it is a big one).
The next step is to find out how you can provide proof of what exactly was inaccurate and incorrect that allowed this to take place.
If someone lied and there is documented proof of that, it may be a reason to take it up with the court as proof of fraud.
Gather all information you have, do some investigative work to show actual proof that lies were told, and hire a lawyer – you need a lawyer here to even stand a chance.
And remember, proof (that is, ‘evidence’), needs to be substantial and clear. It is almost never enough to just say someone lied, but to have proof, in some type of document or other means to show that a lie was told and fraud was committed. Best of luck.
Hi. My name is Chanreth. I currently live in California, but my case is Massachusetts. I would like duress on the adoption case for my daughter back. Her adopted parents are her aunt and uncle. They’ve never took care of her or have my daughter ever lived with them. My daughter lived with me since the day she was born. The adoptive parents led me to believe that they will never physically take my daughter from me if I signed the papers. The adoption was finalized on November 23 2017. I recently found out that the papers were signed in 2013. I never signed any papers in 2013. Please help understand how I can fight for my daughter back. I’m desperate.
Reversing an adoption is not right
Kylie, you don’t know people’s circumstances to judge them. Sometimes reversal is literally the only option for everyone’s safety. I am dealing with an adoptive parent who has been physically accosted, had bones broken, and has almost been killed when the adopted child attacked her while they were driving. That is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the child’s behavior, and there is nothing left that the parent can do. She is in constant danger and the child is getting bigger – and worse – by the day. Many adoption agencies lie about the child’s behavior and background to get him/her out of the system. THAT’s “not right.”
Going through this right now, I am fearful of my adopted child hurting a sibling or myself.
Or what about if the childs adoptive people are way too mean and never listen to the kid. And if the childs adoptive person is a pedophile like mine is they should be able to req for an unadoption
That is so true…..I’m trying to get an reversal for my adoptive son
What’s not right is loving a child and doing all that you can for the child and they go tell lies and get your other foster children removed after her adoption is final. What’s not right is having your name drug through the mud from trying to love someone unconditionally. What’s not right is people who have no idea judging you for what you are doing. If you have no idea what’s is going on then you have no right leaving a reply.
Yes it is if your not adopted or have not been in a situation where it is the right decision to make then shut up
Yes it is, in certain cases! The adoption and social/worker’s have munipulate the poor, and under privileged, minority parent’s, to “make sure”, that they lose their families, to enrich themselves with our loved ones, for a long time now! They’ve always had hidden deceptions, break African Amercan families apart, and then everyone else’s!! The lies that they tell, how far they go to make sure, you can never see your family again!! We love our family!! And cant wait til we see them again!! But just recently i read an Adoption article, about Michigan’s Adoptions Practices, after WWII, that blew another hole in my soul!! And it was like the harshes realities of what they promoted!! They had their way with poor people, and they’re still doing it today, just in another uniform! It’s the worst that can happen to someone who love’s their family. I will never stop longing for my grandchildren, because they think i shoul!! And i pray for all the families that got caught up with your family, from all the hidden deceptions, munipulations, and cancellations, that were put on your family, and family tree, just to satisfy other’s, “oh no, not just for the children”, just because they could!!! I pray that God see the families who are longing to see and love their families, and restore them that deserve it! I pray that God review and revise, the Michigan Child Protection Act. I pray that The Parental Rights Laws in Michigan, be changed immediately! I pray that God look upon the familes who has been tormented and permanently separated from their families, especially the one’s at the Border! I pray that God see the love of the parent’s, who, truly, love their children. And i also pray that God take away the gavels,from Family Court judge’s, who dont deserve them!! In Jesus name, Amen!
What if the mother lied about being unable to find or not know who the father was to ask for consent. What if the child was told by the mother she didn’t know who the father was to keep him from knowing about the adoption? Is that still wrong!?!? I would have NEVER allowed my daughter to be adopted as I would have taken care of her myself if I knew her mom was too busy doing drugs
This is called fraud. You will need some serious documentary proof that fraud was committed and to show the court that she could have easily gotten a hold of you. This needs to be documented – not “we have some similar friends”. It needs to be along the lines of; lived at same address for years (and she knows), parents live at same address, so she could have contacted you there, maybe you both have mutual friends on facebook, she knows where you work, your phone number has not changed, she’s called/texted/emailed you around the same time as she claimed she didn’t know where you were, etc.