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.

In Maryland, you have 30 days after signing adoption consent paperwork to change your mind about adoption, according to Maryland 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.

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

How Long Do I Have to Change My Mind After Adoption in Maryland?

Maryland law gives you exactly 30 days from the date you sign consent to revoke that consent for any reason. You don't need to justify your decision. You don't need to go to court. If you decide adoption isn't right for you within those 30 days, you simply notify your adoption agency in writing.

Maryland law doesn't allow anyone to sign adoption consent until after the baby arrives. This protection exists because Maryland recognizes that you need time after birth to make this permanent decision.

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

Consent is your formal, legal agreement to place your baby for adoption. When you sign consent paperwork, you're confirming that:

• You understand the adoption is permanent after the revocation period
• You're making this choice voluntarily
• You've received counseling and support
• You've had time to consider your options

The Role of the Birth Father

If the birth father's identity is known, his consent is also required unless his rights have been legally terminated. Maryland law protects both parents' rights to make informed decisions about adoption.

Can You Revoke Consent After Signing in Maryland?

Yes. After you sign adoption consent in Maryland, you have a 30-day revocation period during which you can withdraw your consent for any reason.

To revoke consent, you'll need to provide written notice to your adoption agency. Your adoption specialist will guide you through this process.

According to Maryland law, if you change your mind within the 30-day window, your baby is returned to you automatically. You don't need to prove anything to the court or show that revocation is in your child's best interest. Your baby will be returned to your care.

Why Hormonal Shifts After Birth May Trigger Second Thoughts

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 emotions about placing your baby 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.

Hear From a Birth Mother Who Has Been In Your Shoes

You're not alone in how you're feeling. Many birth mothers have experienced the same doubts, fears, and emotions. Sometimes it helps to hear from women who have walked this path before you.

Michelle chose adoption for her son because she wanted to give him opportunities she couldn't provide at the time. She maintained contact through pictures and letters over the years while he grew up with his adoptive family. Years later, he reached out to her and they began building a relationship that continues today.

Read Michelle's full story to hear more about her journey.

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 Maryland court to finalize the adoption. This typically happens several months after placement, once all legal requirements have been met.

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 in Maryland

Many Maryland 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 Maryland law doesn't allow these agreements to be enforced in court, 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. Browse waiting families to see who's hoping to adopt. 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 in Maryland?

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 Maryland

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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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.

You deserve support from people who understand.

 

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