A new adoption law in the state of Georgia is having a very different reaction from opposing sides. A time frame that used to give birth parents 10 total days to revoke consent has now been reduced to just four days.
While this is a welcome overhaul for most adoptive parents, it leaves some feeling that birth parent rights are being compromised. The concern lies in birth parents having enough time to not feel pressured into the decision to place their child for adoption.
Georgia news station WSAV3 spoke with adoption attorney Birney Bull who voiced his opposition stating, “”Four days as opposed to ten. Is that respecting them? Is that asking them to trust the process? No.” said Bull. “It’s saying, hurry up and give us your child and get out of the way. Please, so we can get on with our lives.”
Many prospective adoptive parents are welcoming the new law as a breath of fresh air. Many see the first few days after a child is born as critical to the bonding process.
WSAV3 also spoke with Stephanie Maupin of a Caring Home for Open Door Adoption, an organization that cares for babies the first 10 days before birth parent consent to adoption is irrevocable.
Maupin noted, “We’re very happy about the reduced revocation period because as a caring home, our primary interest is the health and well-being of the child. So the earlier we can begin facilitating that bond with the parent—whether that’s a birth parent or an adoptive parent—the better.”
While there are many opinions surrounding the new law, it is an initiative to help encourage adoption in the state of Georgia. Lawmakers are hoping this new law will put them more on par with other states, making the adoption process in Georgia more attractive to potential adoptive parents.
