How Long after Adoption Can You Change Your Mind in Vermont?
If you're considering adoption in Vermont, you can revoke your consent within 21 days after signing.
During those three weeks, you have the legal right to change your mind and bring your baby home. After that period, your adoption decision becomes permanent, providing the stability your child deserves.
Schedule a consultation today to get answers to all your questions about Vermont's adoption laws and your protected rights.
Understanding how long after adoption you can change your mind is an important part of making an informed choice. We'll walk you through Vermont's specific laws, what the adoption revocation period means for you, and how to navigate the emotions that come with this decision.
How Long Do I Have to Change My Mind After Adoption in Vermont?
In Vermont, you have 21 days after signing your consent to change your mind. This three-week window gives you time to process your emotions and make certain adoption is right.
To revoke your consent during this period, you must notify the court in writing. Your adoption attorney will explain exactly how to do this when you sign.
Vermont law specifies that this 21-day period begins the moment you sign—not from the day your baby is born.
After those 21 days pass, your consent becomes irrevocable. This permanency protects everyone involved, especially your baby.
Adoption Consent in Vermont: What Every Birth Parent Needs to Know
Before you can give consent to adoption in Vermont, you must wait at least 36 hours after your baby's birth. This waiting period ensures you have time to meet your baby and make your decision with a clear mind.
When you're ready to give consent, it must be done in writing and signed in the presence of a judge. Vermont's adoption consent laws require that before you sign, the court will make sure you understand:
Your consent will confirm that you've only received legally allowed financial assistance for pregnancy-related expenses.
Vermont Law Protects Your Right to Revoke Consent
Within 21 days after signing your consent in Vermont, you can revoke it by filing written notice with the court. Vermont law specifies that your consent paperwork will include specific instructions on what a revocation of adoption consent looks like if you change your mind.
You can also revoke your consent if both you and the adoptive parents agree to the revocation.
There are specific circumstances where consent can be challenged even after the 21-day period, though these are rare.
If you can prove by clear evidence that your consent was obtained through fraud or duress, or if the adoptive family didn't file the required petition within 45 days, the court may set aside your consent.
However, once the 21-day adoption revocation period ends, your adoption decision becomes final in nearly all cases.
Those Doubts After Birth Don't Mean You Made the Wrong Choice
Your body goes through extraordinary changes after delivery. Understanding what's happening hormonally can help you distinguish between temporary postpartum feelings and genuine second thoughts.
After giving birth, your body experiences a dramatic drop in pregnancy hormones while oxytocin surges during skin-to-skin contact. These powerful shifts can intensify feelings of attachment, even when you're confident in your adoption plan.
Postpartum hormonal changes affect every new mother, regardless of whether she's parenting or choosing adoption.
Many birth mothers describe feeling an overwhelming pull to keep their baby immediately following delivery. This is your body's natural response—not a sign you've made the wrong decision.
These intense feelings typically stabilize within a few weeks as your hormone levels regulate. The 21-day adoption revocation period in Vermont aligns with this adjustment period.
Doubt Happens—Remember Why You Chose Adoption
Feeling uncertain doesn't mean you're making a mistake. It means you care deeply about your baby's future and your own.
When doubt creeps in, revisit the reasons you initially considered adoption. Was it about providing your child with a stable two-parent home? Opportunities you couldn't offer right now?
Choosing adoption makes you a mother who loves her child enough to make an incredibly difficult decision for their benefit.
Our adoption specialists have walked alongside birth mothers who changed their minds at the last minute, only to reach back out weeks later expressing regret.
While we respect every woman's choice, initial powerful emotions can sometimes overshadow the thoughtful reasoning behind your adoption plan.
Hear from Birth Mothers Who Have Been In Your Shoes
Julia's story shows what life can look like after choosing adoption. When she found herself unexpectedly pregnant during college, she knew adoption was the right path.
Julia chose American Adoptions and found instant connection with her specialists. When she connected with her daughter's adoptive parents, she knew it was meant to be.
"I knew it was the right decision when they told me they had always wanted a girl and had always planned to name her Julianna," she remembers.
Today, Julia has completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees using American Adoptions' birth parent scholarship program. She maintains an open relationship with Julianna's family.
"I knew my life did not stop after adoption," she says. "It gave me a second chance to pursue my goals and dreams."
Will she regret giving my baby up for adoption? Julia's story shows that while adoption involves grief, it doesn't have to mean regret when you have proper support.
After the Revocation Period: What Happens Next in Adoption?
Once the 21-day adoption revocation period ends, your adoption moves into finalization. During the finalization hearing, typically months after placement, the judge reviews all documentation. Once the judge signs the final decree:
If you've chosen an open adoption arrangement, finalization doesn't change your ability to maintain contact.
Many women wonder, "Can you get your baby back after adoption?" Once finalization occurs and the adoption revocation period has passed, the adoption is permanent.
You'll Never Face This Decision Without Support
Making an adoption decision brings up complex emotions. That's why professional counseling is built into the adoption process.
At American Adoptions, you'll work with an adoption specialist who becomes your dedicated advocate, available by phone, text, or email.
You'll also have access to professional counseling services throughout your pregnancy and after placement to process emotions, work through doubts, and plan for your future.
This support system exists because adoption is about more than legal paperwork—it's about honoring your feelings and ensuring you have every resource needed.
What If I'm Still Unsure About Adoption?
Uncertainty doesn't mean weakness—it means you're taking this decision seriously.
If you're still wrestling with whether adoption is right, know that you don't have to decide today. Taking the time you need is encouraged.
Learn about the adoption process and what life looks like after placement. Understanding whether adoption is right for you starts with complete information.
Remember, in Vermont, you don't have to sign consent until at least 36 hours after birth. And even after you sign, you have 21 days to change your mind.
How American Adoptions Supports Birth Mothers
Throughout your adoption journey, American Adoptions provides comprehensive support. From your first phone call through years after placement, you'll never face this alone.
You deserve to make this decision with all the support and care in the world. Get started today by contacting us.
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