In Indiana, you have 30 days after signing adoption consent paperwork to change your mind about adoption, according to Indiana adoption consent law. During this revocation period, you can withdraw your consent without providing a reason. After the 30-day window closes, your consent becomes permanent and the adoption process moves forward toward finalization.

If you're feeling uncertain about adoption right now, that's completely normal. These decisions aren't easy, and you deserve support from people who understand what you're going through.

Fill out our contact form today to get the support you deserve from an adoption specialist.

Adoption Consent in Indiana: What Every Birth Parent Needs to Know

Consent is your legal agreement to place your child for adoption. It's one of the most significant documents you'll sign, and Indiana law builds in specific protections to ensure you're making this decision with full understanding and support.

Here's what makes Indiana's consent process different:

Under Indiana adoption law, you cannot legally give consent until at least 24 hours after your baby is born. This waiting period exists to protect you from making a rushed decision during labor or immediately after delivery when emotions run high and your body is still recovering.

When you're ready to sign, your consent must be:

• In writing
• Signed in the presence of a notary public
• Witnessed by two adults

You decide when you're ready to sign within the legal timeframe. If you need more time to feel certain about your decision, your adoption specialist will support you in taking that time. No one will pressure you to sign before you're ready.

Can You Revoke Consent After Signing?

Yes. After you sign adoption consent in Indiana, you have a 30-day revocation period during which you can file a petition with the court to withdraw your consent.

You'll need to notify your adoption agency (if you're working with American Adoptions) and the adoptive family. The court will then need to determine that withdrawing consent is in your child's best interest.

It's important to understand what's happening in your body during this time. Right after giving birth, your hormone levels shift dramatically. Specifically oxytocin and prolactin supercharge your maternal instincts and you might feel overwhelming feelings about placing your baby up for adoption.

These feelings are real, but they're often temporary. As your hormones stabilize over the following days and weeks, many birth mothers find that the clarity they had when making their adoption decision returns.

Doubt Happens—Remember Why You Chose Adoption

If you're experiencing doubt right now, take a moment to reconnect with your reasons for considering adoption in the first place:

• Did you want to give your child opportunities you couldn't provide?
• Were you focused on completing your education or building financial stability first?
• Did you envision your child growing up in a two-parent home?
• Were you concerned about providing the emotional support a child needs?

We have walked alongside hundreds of birth mothers through moments of uncertainty.

Some have changed their minds at the last minute, only to reach out weeks later expressing regret and wishing they could move forward with adoption after all.

This doesn't mean your feelings are wrong—it means this decision is significant, and it's worth taking the time you need to be sure. Your adoption specialist is here to talk through these feelings with you, not to convince you one way or another, but to help you find clarity.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with someone who understands what you're going through.

Hear From A Birth Mother Who Has Been In Your Shoes

After the Revocation Period: What Happens Next in Adoption?

Once the 30-day revocation period ends without you withdrawing consent, your consent becomes permanent. At this point, you cannot reclaim custody of your child, and the adoption process moves toward legal finalization.

The adoptive parents will petition the Indiana court to finalize the adoption. Indiana law requires a minimum six-month supervision period before finalization can occur, so this typically happens at least six months after placement.

Once the judge signs the final adoption decree, the adoptive parents become your child's legal parents with all rights and responsibilities. Your child receives a new birth certificate reflecting their adoptive family.

Your Relationship Can Continue Through Open Adoption

Many Indiana birth mothers maintain relationships with their children and adoptive families through open adoption arrangements. When you work with American Adoptions, we help you create a post-adoption contact agreement with every adoptive family that outlines exactly what contact will look like—photos, letters, video calls, or visits.

We carefully match you with families who share your preferences for openness from the start. While Indiana law doesn't allow these agreements to be enforced in court for young children, we're here to help you navigate the relationship and address any concerns that come up along the way.

The key to successful open adoption is choosing a family whose values and vision for contact align with yours. We're here to help you find that match.

Why Adoption Decisions Are Supported with Counseling

American Adoptions doesn't just hand you paperwork and wish you luck. We provide comprehensive counseling and support throughout your entire journey, including:

Pre-placement counseling helps you:

• Explore your feelings about adoption honestly
• Understand all your options, including parenting and other alternatives
• Work through any pressure you might feel from family or others
• Prepare emotionally for placement and life after adoption

Post-placement counseling supports you through:

• Processing your emotions after placement
• Coping with grief and loss while also celebrating your child's future
• Adjusting to life after adoption
• Maintaining healthy relationships with the adoptive family

This counseling serves as a safeguard, ensuring you're making your decision from a place of clarity rather than crisis.

Many birth mothers describe this support as life-changing, helping them work through complex emotions they didn't know they had.

Learn more about the emotions of adoption and how we support you through them.

What If I'm Still Unsure About Adoption?

Uncertainty doesn't mean you're making the wrong choice—it means you're taking this decision seriously, which is exactly what you should do.

If you're still unsure, you have options:

How American Adoptions Supports Birth Mothers in Indiana

You're going through one of life's most challenging experiences, and you deserve support every step of the way. Here's how we walk alongside you:

• You control every aspect of your adoption plan. From choosing the perfect family to deciding on the level of openness you want, every major decision is yours.
• We guide you through the options, but we never make choices for you.
• You receive financial support throughout pregnancy. Under Indiana adoption law, you can receive assistance with pregnancy-related expenses including housing, utilities, food, maternity clothing, and medical bills not covered by insurance.
• This support helps you focus on your health and well-being without the stress of financial crisis.
• You work with a dedicated adoption specialist. Your specialist becomes your advocate, your sounding board, and your support system.
• They're available 24/7 to answer questions, provide emotional support, and ensure you feel safe throughout the process.
• You connect with the adoptive family directly. Many Indiana birth mothers develop meaningful relationships with the families who adopt their children.
• You can meet them before placement, stay in touch afterward, and watch your child grow up knowing they were loved by you enough to choose a beautiful life for them.
• You focus on your goals and dreams. Adoption isn't about giving up—it's about choosing a brighter future for both you and your baby.

After placement, many birth mothers pursue education, build careers, focus on personal growth, and eventually create the life they envisioned for themselves. Your child grows up with every opportunity in the world, knowing their birth mother loved them enough to make an incredibly difficult but selfless choice.

Take Your Next Step

You don't have to have everything figured out right now.

Whether you're still exploring your options or you're ready to move forward with an adoption plan, American Adoptions is here to support you with the compassion and expertise you deserve.

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