AboutPeter C. Winkler, CSW Expertise I have experience with adoption subsidy, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and variety of other adoption related matters. I hope that I can be helpful to those who are considering adoption or would like to adopt a child.
Experience I am a social worker with an MSW and I have over thirty years of experience in family and children's services. I have worked as Director of adoption services and of the Interstate Compact in a large state agency. I have also provided direct services to children and families in a preventive services program. I currently prepare adoption studies for those who are adopting domestically or internationally.
Question I adopted a foster child and now five years later she is pregnant and wants my husband and I to adopt the baby. She is doing this sort as a serigate because I had cancer at an early age and can't have children. Her birth mom signed off all parental rights and is now saying she has grandmother rights. Our daughter is VERY scared because her birth mom is mentally ill and very unstable. She also beat Kaitlyn, dropped all her kids off with relatives and left them for months. She is also skitsafranic. Kaitlyn just assumed that if I adopt the baby her birth mother would have no rights, also since her mom signed off rights to her.
Answer Dear Tammy-
I am not a lawyer, so you should discuss this whole matter with a local lawyer who does adoption work. You will also need this lawyer to help with the adoption of the child who will be born.
Based on the information that you have provided, I doubt that the birthmother's mother will be a problem in this situation. On the other hand, given the situation that you have described, I would strongly advise that you provide counseling services (from a licensed therapist)for your former foster daughter. The counseling would help your former foster daughter to clearly understand the decision she is making and it will also give you and your husband an opportunity to talk about "ground rules" surrounding the adoption. How much access will she have to the child? Will the child be told who the birthmother is? Does the birthmother realize that once the adoption is finalized she cannot take the child back?
Finally, you didn't mention the birth father. He will have to give his written consent to the adoption or the court procedure will be more complicated and costly.
