Relinquishment

The most important part of the legal adoption process is to have an understanding of what is happening. The birthmother should educate herself about what papers she will be signing and what they mean. She can work with her adoption agency to go over all of the documents she will sign before she puts her signature on it. The birthmother may also ask for copies of the documents that she signed so she can look over them later. Once the papers are signed, a court date will be determined to finalize the adoption.

The birthmother should not sign any papers until she is certain of her decision. After the relinquishment process, it is very unlikely that the birthmother will be able to win her case to have her child returned to her. The amount of days a mother has to change her mind after signing the termination of her parental rights varies by state. After the relinquishment process is complete, the birthmother's rights are severed, unless she can prove that she was forced, under duress, or part of the adoption process was illegally performed.