Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Who may adopt?
A husband and wife jointly if both are least age 21.
A stepparent.
An unmarried or legally separated person at least age 21.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
The parent may not execute consent until after the child's birth.
A putative father may consent before or after the child's birth.
A permanent relinquishment may be executed any time after the child's birth, after court authorization, but it must be in writing and include a statement of irrevocability.

A Child's Waiting A Child's Waiting
Revocation of consent?
Consent is irrevocable, except if it was obtained by fraud or duress, or if a court finds that it is in the child's best interest, and there has been no adoptive placement for 9 months.
An extra-judicial consent is revocable for any reason for 15 days.

Who may place a child for adoption?
The child's parent(s).
Legal guardian or guardian ad litem.
The department.
A licensed child-placing agency.

Advertising?
The crime of trafficking in children includes:

  • Advertising of services for compensation to assist with the placement of a child for adoption by any person or organization except by the department or a licensed child-placing agency
  • Advertisements for and solicitation of a woman who is pregnant to induce her to place her child upon birth for adoption, except by a licensed child- placing agency or an attorney
  • Nothing in this section shall prohibit an attorney from the advertisement of legal services related to the adoption of children. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from advertising to solicit a pregnant woman to consider adoptive placement with the person or to locate a child for an adoptive placement into the person’s own home, provided that such person has received a favorable pre- placement home study recommendation … and that no money or other thing of value is offered as an inducement to the adoption.

Facilitators?
The crime of trafficking in children includes:

  • The acceptance, solicitation, offer, payment, or transfer of any compensation, in money, property, or other thing of value, at any time, by any person in connection with the adoption of a minor child, except as ordered by the court or as provided by law
  • The acceptance or solicitation of any compensation by any person or organization for services performed, rendered, or purported to be performed to facilitate or assist in the adoption of a minor child, except by the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or an attorney
  • Bringing or causing to be brought into the State any child for the purpose of placing such child for adoption and thereafter refusing to comply upon request with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
  • The ICPC does not apply to the parent or guardian of the child nor to a person bringing the child into the State for adopting the child into such person's own family.

Putative Father's Registry?
Yes. Before or after the child's birth, the putative father may receive a Notice of Plan for Adoption (formal notice that the mother is considering adoption).
He must complete the enclosed preaddressed form within 30 days from the date that the Plan for Adoption was served.

Expenses?
Birth parent –
Attorney's fees and court costs.
Medical expenses.
Counseling expenses.
Necessities for the birth mother that are incurred as a result of the pregnancy only in extraordinary circumstances.
Payments to birth mother not to extend beyond 2 months after placement of child.
Payments for counseling may not exceed 6 months after placement.

Department/Agency –
Reasonable fees of a licensed agency.
Cost of a home study.
Any reasonable expenses legally required by any governmental entity related to the adoption.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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