How Long After Adoption Can You Change Your Mind in California?
In California, you have 30 days after signing your consent to adoption to legally change your mind and revoke that consent. This California-specific adoption revocation period gives you time to process your emotions and ensures your decision is truly what's best for you and your baby.
With proper support and counseling during this time, you can move forward with confidence knowing you've made the right choice.
What if having the right support could help you feel completely confident in your decision from day one? Schedule a consultation today and get the support you deserve.
Here's everything you need to know about California's adoption consent laws, how long after adoption you can change your mind, what happens after that window closes, and how American Adoptions supports birth mothers throughout this deeply personal journey.
How Long Do I Have to Change My Mind After Adoption in California?
Under California law, birth parents have 30 days after signing their consent to adoption to revoke that consent and change their mind.
This is known as the adoption revocation period, and it's designed to protect your rights as a birth parent while ensuring you have adequate time to be certain about your decision.
The 30-day period begins from the date you sign your written consent to the adoption, not from the date of birth or placement. California Family Code Section 8814.5 specifically outlines this revocation period, making it one of the more generous timeframes in the United States for birth parent protection.
During these 30 days, you can you get your baby back after adoption by providing written notice to the adoption agency or attorney handling your case. No specific reason is required — the law simply recognizes that this is an incredibly significant decision that deserves careful consideration.
Adoption Consent in California: What Every Birth Parent Needs to Know
Consent to adoption is your legal agreement that you voluntarily relinquish your parental rights and allow your child to be adopted by another family. In California, this consent must be given in writing and cannot be signed until after your baby is born.
The consent document covers several key points:
California law requires that your consent be witnessed and that you receive independent legal counsel if requested.
Can You Revoke Consent After Signing?
Yes, but only within the 30-day adoption revocation period established by California law.
When it comes to what a revocation of adoption consent look like, you must provide written notice to the adoption agency, attorney, or court handling your adoption case.
However, after the 30-day period expires, consent cannot be revoked except in very rare circumstances involving fraud, duress, or mental incapacity that can be proven in court.
Why Hormonal Shifts After Birth May Trigger Second Thoughts
The physical and emotional experience of childbirth creates an intense hormonal cascade that can significantly impact your feelings and decision-making in the days following delivery.
After giving birth, your body experiences dramatic shifts in key hormones:
These hormonal changes are completely natural but can create a temporary period where your emotions feel overwhelming and your previous certainty about adoption may waver.
Doubt Happens — Remember Why You Chose Adoption
Experiencing second thoughts doesn't mean you made the wrong decision, it means you're human. The fact that you're carefully considering this decision shows how much you love your baby and want what's truly best for them.
Remember the circumstances that led you to consider adoption initially.
Whether it was ensuring your baby would have financial stability, wanting to provide educational opportunities you couldn't offer, or recognizing you're not ready for parenthood, those reasons were valid then and remain valid now.
Our adoption specialists have supported many birth mothers who experienced last-minute doubts, you’re not alone.
The benefits of choosing adoption create lifelong opportunities for your child and peace of mind for you.
Hear from Birth Mothers Who Have Been In Your Shoes
Many birth mothers have navigated these same feelings and emerged with confidence in their adoption decision.
Lindsey’s mind immediately went to parenting upon learning about her pregnancy, but as time went on, she grappled choosing adoption or raising a second child on her own.
Eventually, she decided adoption was best for her family and found a loving adoptive family in Amber and Eric.
With the right guidance and emotional support, you can work through temporary doubts and make a decision you'll feel confident about for years to come.
After the Revocation Period: What Happens Next in Adoption?
Once California's 30-day adoption revocation period expires, the adoption moves toward finalization — the legal process that makes the adoptive parents your child's permanent legal guardians.
The adoption finalization process in California typically takes 6 months to 1 year after placement.
During this period, the court reviews all adoption paperwork and background checks to ensure everything meets California's legal requirements. A judge then grants the final adoption decree, making the adoption legally permanent.
Once finalized, your child receives a new birth certificate listing their adoptive parents as legal parents. This permanency provides crucial stability, allowing them to form secure attachments without uncertainty about their future.
Why Adoption Decisions Are Supported with Counseling
Professional counseling is an essential safeguard that helps ensure you're making a truly informed decision. Your adoption specialist at American Adoptions serves as your advocate, counselor, and support system throughout the entire process.
This comprehensive support includes:
California's adoption laws recognize the importance of counseling support, which is why licensed agencies like ours are required to provide professional counseling services throughout the process.
What If I'm Still Unsure About Adoption?
Feeling uncertain about adoption doesn't make you indecisive, it makes you thoughtful. Many California birth mothers experience periods of uncertainty, and it's completely normal to take the time you need to be absolutely sure.
You have every right to delay signing your consent until you feel confident in your decision. There's no pressure to sign immediately after birth.
If you're still weighing your options, consider these supportive resources:
Determining if adoption is right for you is a deeply personal process that can't be rushed. The right decision is the one that feels authentically right for your specific situation and circumstances.
How American Adoptions Supports Birth Mothers
At American Adoptions, we understand that California birth mothers deserve compassionate, comprehensive support that honors both your autonomy and emotional needs. Our approach combines decades of experience with deep respect for the courage it takes to consider adoption.
Our California birth mother support includes:
Your decision about adoption will impact the rest of your life and your child's life. You deserve to make that decision with complete information, professional support, and confidence.
Don't you deserve to have a conversation with someone who truly understands what you're going through and can provide the guidance you need to feel completely confident in whatever decision you make? Speak with a specialist today.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
