—You have the right to change your mind at any time during your pregnancy and thorough the end of the consent revocation period
— you have the right to your own attorney at no cost to you who will be your advocate through the process
— you have the right to choose the family for your child
— you have the right to define what happens after placement and the relationship you will have with your child and the family you have chosen
— you have the right to respect and honesty
— you have the right to take as much time as you need to make your decision
— you have the right to choose what happens at the hospital when you are in labor and after you deliver your child — you have the right to create a Hospital Plan where you can specify how you want your hospital experience to look.
— you have the right to receive counseling and information about resources to help you
— you have the right to request reasonable financial assistance during the pregnancy and for six weeks after delivery under NC law
— you have the right to ask questions and have them answered
AP – What to Expect
A redacted copy of your home study will be shared with the birth mother in a direct placement under North Carolina law.
An expectant mother/birth mother will have her own attorney that you provide for her. Her attorney represents only her and her interests. Her attorney should communicate with you only through your attorney. Your attorney should communicate with the expectant/birth mother only through her attorney.
An expectant mother can change her mind at any time during the pregnancy or through the revocation period. In North Carolina, the revocation period is seven days after the consent to adoption is signed. When the seventh day lands on a weekend or holiday, the revocation period is extended through the next business day. A revocation period ends at midnight and not the close of business.
A birth mother decides who will be permitted in the hospital and whether adopting parents may visit or room in with the child, when hospital policy and availability permits. In most cases, until the baby is discharged from the hospital, the birth mother will retain decision-making authority and custody of the baby if she chooses to do so. She will also name the baby and is free to choose any name. You are able to change the child’s legal name in the adoption process. Until the adoption is final, the baby’s legal name is the name given by the birth mother at the hospital.
Your adoption will take at least 90 days to complete in North Carolina. You will receive an adoption decree once the adoption is complete. This is also the time when the birth parent’s rights are terminated. In North Carolina, you are not required to appear in court during the adoption process in most cases.
The post-adoption birth certificate will list you as the parents and will take approximately at least 60-90 days after the adoption decree is granted to be issued. You will be responsible for ordering the post-adoption birth certificate when you receive notice that it is available from North Carolina Vital Records. You can apply for your child’s social security number after the adoption decree has been entered by going to your local Social Security office.
You will receive social and medical history information from the birth mother. Fox Rothschild does not verify the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. There are unknown medical risks in any adoption placement and you are responsible for discussing any concerns or issues with a medical doctor prior to taking placement of the child.