Adoption Law In Oklahoma, From Requirements to Determining Fatherhood

This article discusses:

• The requirements of adoption and how the type of father involved influences the process.
• How being part of a Native American tribe may affect adoption, fatherhood, etc.
• How long adoption in Oklahoma typically takes.

What Are The Requirements When It Comes To Adopting A Child, Especially A Stepchild Or Relative Adoption, When There’s A Biological Father That Is Around?

Requirements and processes vary depending on what the biological father is legally over and above being the biological father. Legally, there are three types of fathers:

• Legal or presumed;
  • They can simply sign a consent form, and it can be finished with that alone.
• Alleged;
  • These men are claimed to be the father of a child by the mother, although they may not necessarily be.
  • You do not necessarily need their consent at all.
• Acknowledged father.
  • These are fathers who are the child’s biological father but are not married to the mother. They sign the acknowledgment of paternity at the hospital when the baby is born.
  • You only need to give notice.
    • If they appear before the court, then the process goes accordingly.
    • If they consent, they have to do so before the judge. The attorney will ask them about 15 to 20 questions. Once their testimony is recorded, the judge acknowledges that they generally accept consent from the acknowledged father. If this happens, transcripts get filed into the adoption, and it is part of the record.

Does Being Part Of A Tribe Bring With It Any Differences Regarding Relative Adoptions, Fatherhood, Biological Parent, Etc.?

There are some differences if you are a part of a tribe when navigating things like adoption.

You must give notice to the tribe for every single proceeding. Policies may change, but typically, as long as you give them notice, especially if you are a blood relative to the child being adopted, they normally do not interfere. If it’s not blood-related, they weigh whether or not to proceed. They tend to do thorough due diligence as to whether or not active efforts have been found. That’s where experts come in and testify.

How Long Does It Generally Take To Finalize An Adoption Once You’ve Gone Through The Process In Oklahoma?

Although it depends on your individual case, most adoptions in Oklahoma typically take nine months to a year to finalize after going through the entire process. This is largely due to the time costs associated with serving or finding people involved in the case.

With the guidance of a skilled attorney for Adoption Law, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’ll make it look easy.

For more information on Adoption Law in Oklahoma, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (918) 890-0881 today.