Tennessee

Who may adoption?
Any person over age 18 who has been a resident for at least 6 months may adopt, with the following stipulations:

Spouses must petition jointly.
Foster parents are given first preference on adopting their foster child.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
No surrender shall be made prior to the 3rd day after the child's birth.
The count starts on the first full day following birth.
The court may, for good cause shown, waive the 3-day waiting period.

Revocation of consent?
A person may revoke a surrender within 10 days if such revocation occurs in the presence of a judge.
After 10 days, a surrender cannot be set aside unless the court finds reasons the adoption should not go forward.
A surrender may be revoked at anytime prior to the entry of an order of confirmation of parental consent by the court.
The surrender may be revoked if there is clear and convincing evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, or duress.

Who may place a child for adoption?
A parent.
The department.
A licensed child-placing agency.
A licensed clinical social worker.

Advertising?
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Facilitators?
No person, corporation, agency, or other entity, except the department or a l icensed child-placing agency or licensed clinical social worker, shall engage in the placement of children for adoption. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any person from advising parents of a child or prospective adoptive parents in making necessary arrangements for adoption so long as no remuneration, fees, contributions, or things of value are given or received from any person or entity for such service other than usual and customary legal and medical fees.

Putative Father's Registry?
Yes. The putative father may file a notice of intent to claim paternity prior to the child's birth or within 30 days after the child's birth.
The putative father must file a complaint for parentage within 30 days from the receipt of notice of adoption proceedings.

Expenses?
Birth parent-
Usual and customary legal fees.
Medical fees in connection with the birth or other pregnancy related expenses.
Counseling for the birth parents.
Housing, clothing, utilities, or transportation.
Payment of living expenses not permitted beyond a reasonable period, not to exceed 90 days prior to or 30 days after the birth or surrender, without court approval.

Department/Agency –
The department shall maintain a database of fees charged by licensed agencies for home studies, placement services, counseling, and legal fees.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton