Maine Adoption Guide

Maine does not have a putative father registry. However, the state stresses the importance of establishing paternity in any case where a woman's husband is not the father of her child.

If a man's name is on the birth certificate, he is a legal father. If the birth mother is married, her spouse is the legal parent. If the birth mother is not married, and there is not a known sperm donor, the birth father can sign an out of court waiver at the time of birth.

The birth mother must give notice of her consent for adoption to a putative father, or a man who is believed to be the father to a child but whose paternity has not been legally established. The putative father then has 20 days to petition the court for parental rights. A judge will issue a hearing to determine the matter of paternity. If the putative father chooses not to appear most courts interpret this as a surrender of his parental rights. Remember to always consult an adoption attorney in regards to birth father rights.