• Home /
• Considering Adoption /
• Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see, hold and name the baby after the birth?

Yes, you can choose to see, hold and name the child at the hospital and ongoing until placement with the adoptive family. Even if the child goes into foster care, you can continue visits with the foster family.

Can I have ongoing contact with the child once the adoption has taken place?

Yes, the amount and frequency of contact is determined with the adoption family usually prior to your rights being terminated. There are no laws for continuing contact. It is strictly a trust agreement.

What happens if the child’s parents do not agree with the adoption plan?

Both parents generally must agree with the adoption plan. However, sometimes rights are terminated involuntarily if the other parent does not make a suitable parenting plan with the court.

If the biological parents are no longer together, how is the father of the baby notified of the mother’s adoption plan?

The father is notified either by someone contacting him in person, by mail, or by publishing the impending adoption plan in an appropriate newspaper.

What procedures are followed to ensure that adoptive parents are fit to adopt a child?

All adoptive families have to obtain a Home Study, also referred to as an Assessment, completed by a licensed child-placing agency. A Home Study includes various information on the family, such as their criminal history, any history of child abuse or neglect, social, familial, medical, and financial information.

Can children be placed for adoption with parents of a different race, color, or national origin?

Yes, most often the biological parents choose the adoptive family they want for the child.

Can a child born with special medical needs be placed for adoption?

Yes, any child can be placed for adoption.

What rights do grandparents have in their child’s decision to place a child for adoption?

Grandparents have no rights to the adoption. Only the biological parents have rights to make a plan of adoption.

Do I have rights as a father?

Yes. In Missouri, mothers AND fathers have rights and responsibilities for the child.

What is the Putative Father Registry?

It is a record of names and address of fathers (or men who believe they might be a father) of children born outside of marriage.

Should I put my name on the Putative Father Registry?

If you have had protected or unprotected sexual intercourse with a woman who is not your wife within the last year, then the Putative Father Registry applies to you. If a child was conceived as a result of that sexual relationship and you want to protect your rights about any such child, you should add your name to the Putative Father Registry. If you are concerned that your child may be adopted without your consent, you should add your name to the Registry. You can add your name by filing a Notice of Intent to Claim Paternity, with the Bureau of Vital Records, 1-800-859-7999.