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You could go speak with a detective at your local police office, and/or call the state attorney's general office. There's no guarantee that anyone will pursue your in formation.If a crime is committed and a person has knowledge about it, it does make them an accessory, but that doesn't mean it's an offense that can be prosecuted. Sometimes it's more of a moral obligation to inform.
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I started reading this forum a few months ago when friends of mine started the adoption process. It was here that I learned the legal process of adoption, in fact. My friends were informed by their adoption agency that they had a baby. We were all excited. Long story short, the agency knows who the birth father was but purposefully did not contact him. (He allegedly was not aware the birth mother was pregnant.) I'm sure the reason no contact was attempted was so that the agency could just get their fee and move on. The adoption agency they worked with has done this in the past. It was a big news story here a few years ago when another birth father sued and won custody of his child several years after the adoption. It was exactly the same scenario where this very same agency was found not to have done due diligence in contacting the birth father, who they knew the identity of all along, but he did not know he had a child. (Why this agency was not shut down after having been found guilty, I don't know). There is much more to this story, but I think that's enough for now. As for your question about the finalization of the adoption, Brandy, I don't know. But based on the fact that a birth father won back his child in our state, I'm not sure it matters.
I am really afraid to post too much about this. Moral and ethical problems aside, am I obligated by law to report what I know? Again, to whom? If I don't, does that make me an accomplice to a crime? Nobody in my real life seems to know the answer to this, which is why I am asking here. But now that I have posted it here, there is written proof that can be traced to me that I did know. I lie awake nights worrying about this on all sorts of levels.
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Ginger - the laws very from state to state. Not all states 'require' a father to consent - and it's possible the laws have changed since the last case.If you feel comfortable, you can PM me the state name and I can give you more info on the laws RE: fathers in the state. Contact the court in which the case is being heard would be my advice.
Thank you all for your supportive posts here and private messages. I am ashamed to say that I have done nothing about this situation. I am too afraid for my job and afraid of the fall-out in general, as I know for sure they would know it was me reporting. :(
One person told me that God protects those that do the right thing (reporting), and I know in my heart that is true, but I am still too afraid. :(
I really admire the adoptive parents here who have written that they made ultra-sure that the bio father was willing to sign off before they proceeded. I feel THAT shows true love for the baby, and that what my friends have done is pure selfishness and the opposite of love for the baby.
Thank you so much for allowing me to reach out to your marvelous community ... I am overwhelmed by the kindness and integrity of the people who wrote to me.
If I make the decison to stop being such a coward and report what I know I will update you all. I guess I am hoping the situation takes care of itself (ie the bio mother tells the bio father and he either signs off willingly or gets his baby back), but another part of me wonders if maybe I was given all this insider knowledge for a reason and that the outcome therefore depends on me.
I didn't want to leave you all hanging by not posting at all, and I am embarrassed that my update is that I have no update, but I felt you all deserved to know. Thank you again for all your kindness. <3