2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 10. Children › §10-7503-3.1. Notice of plan for adoption.

A. 1. Before or after the birth of a minor born out of wedlock, the Department of Human Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or an attorney representing prospective adoptive parents of the minor may, by in-hand service to the putative father or certified mail to the putative father, to be signed by the putative father only, notify or cause to be notified a putative father of the minor that the mother of the child is considering an adoptive placement for the minor through a Notice of Plan for Adoption. If service of the Notice of Plan for Adoption is made by in-hand service, delivery of the Notice must be made by a person licensed to make service of process in civil cases. Residence service delivered to or signed by a person residing in the home of the putative father or any other forms of substitute service shall not be sufficient service pursuant to this subsection.
2. Service of a Notice of Plan for Adoption may be served in the manner permitted in this subsection upon a putative father within this state or outside of this state.
B. The Notice of Plan for Adoption shall include the following:
1. The identity of the mother, that she is pregnant and the estimated date of birth, that the notified person may be the father of the minor, and that a plan for the adoption of the minor is being considered by the mother;
2. A preaddressed form for filing by mail or in person with the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services and a copy to be returned to the attorney or agency who sent it. On this form, the recipient shall sign the form and indicate one of the following choices:
a.
"I do not know if I am the father of this minor. I desire to receive notice of the adoption proceedings or the proceeding to terminate parental rights. I understand that this creates no evidence that could be introduced in court to prove paternity. Its only legal effect is to entitle me to notice, at the address listed on the form, of an adoption proceeding that may be filed after the birth of the minor."
b.
"I hereby file my notice of intent to claim paternity. I understand that a notice of intent to claim paternity may be revoked at any time by filing a notice to disclaim with the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services. I also understand that an unrevoked notice of intent to claim paternity may be used as evidence in any future court proceeding in which it may be relevant, including a child support proceeding. I desire to receive notice of the adoption proceeding or the proceeding to terminate parental rights."
c.
"I acknowledge paternity. I understand that this acknowledgement of paternity cannot be revoked and may be used as evidence in any future court proceeding in which it may be relevant, including a child support proceeding. I desire to receive notice of the adoption proceeding or the proceeding to terminate parental rights."
d.
"I deny paternity. I am not the father of the minor and I do not want to receive notice of any adoption proceeding, or proceeding to terminate my parental rights regarding the minor. I understand that I am waiving and surrendering any parental rights in relation to the minor in connection with the adoption of the minor. I understand that my consent to the adoption will not be required."
e.
"I may or may not be the father of the minor. I do not want to receive notice of any adoption proceeding, or proceeding to terminate my parental rights regarding the minor. I understand that I am waiving and surrendering any parental rights in relation to the minor in connection with the adoption of the minor. I understand that my consent to the adoption will not be required."
3. In addition, the Notice of Plan for Adoption shall inform the putative father that:
a.
if the form is not received by the Department of Human Services or the attorney or child-placing agency sending it within thirty (30) days from the date that the Notice of Plan for Adoption is served, the failure to file the form shall constitute:
(1)
a waiver of the right to receive further notice of any adoption proceedings or proceedings to terminate parental rights, if any, that may be filed regarding the minor,
(2)
a denial of interest in the minor, which denial shall result in the court's termination of the notified party's parental rights to the minor and approval of an adoption without his consent if an adoption proceeding is filed regarding the minor and the adoption is approved by the court,
b.
if the form is received by the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services or the attorney or child-placing agency sending it within thirty (30) days of the date of service of the Notice of Plan for Adoption, and it indicates that any of the options specified in subparagraphs a, b and c of paragraph 2 of this subsection have been chosen, the notified person shall have a right to receive notice of any adoption proceedings or any termination of parental rights proceedings that may be filed regarding the minor, at the address given by the putative father on the form, or at an address later provided to the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services. The return of the form to the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services or the attorney or child-placing agency sending the form is the only action by which the notified person will retain the right, if any, to notice of adoption or termination of parental rights proceedings regarding the minor,
c.
the filing of the enclosed form shall not, by itself, constitute the bearing of parental responsibilities, and shall not, by itself, establish parental rights,
d.
the filing of the enclosed form or the failure to file the enclosed form shall not affect the duty to support the mother or child during the pregnancy or after the delivery of the minor,
e.
if a petition to adopt the minor is not filed within twelve (12) months of the placement of the minor for adoption, failure to mail the enclosed notice form shall not affect the notified person's parental rights and responsibilities,
f.
the failure to give such notice shall not be grounds available to the father to establish that he was denied knowledge of the pregnancy, and
g.
receipt by a putative father of a Notice of Plan for Adoption or return of the form does not obligate the mother of the minor to proceed with an adoptive placement of the minor.
C. If the form is not received by the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services, the attorney or child-placing agency within thirty (30) days from the date that the Notice of Plan for Adoption is served, the failure to file the form shall constitute:
1. A waiver of the right to receive further notice of any adoption proceedings or proceedings to terminate parental rights, if any, that may be filed regarding the minor; and
2. A denial of interest in the minor, which denial shall result in the court's termination of the notified party's parental rights to this minor and approval of an adoption without his consent if an adoption proceeding is filed regarding this minor and the adoption is approved by the court.
D. If the form is received by the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services, or the attorney or child-placing agency within thirty (30) days of the date of service of the Notice of Plan for Adoption, and it indicates that any of the options specified in subparagraphs a, b and c of paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section have been chosen, the putative father shall have a right to receive notice of any adoption proceedings or any termination of parental rights proceedings that may be filed regarding the minor, at the address of the putative father given on the form, or at an address later provided to the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services. The return of the form to the Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services, or the attorney or child-placing agency sending the form within thirty (30) days is the only action by which the notified person will retain the right, if any, to notice of adoption or termination of parental rights proceedings regarding the minor.
E. The filing of the enclosed form shall not, by itself, constitute the bearing of parental responsibilities, and shall not, by itself, establish parental rights.
F. The filing of the enclosed form or the failure to file the enclosed form shall not affect the duty to support the mother or minor during the pregnancy or after the delivery of the minor.
G. If a petition to adopt the minor has not been filed within twelve (12) months of placement of the minor for adoption, failure to mail the enclosed notice form shall not affect the notified person's parental rights and responsibilities.
H. The failure to give such notice shall not be grounds available to the father to establish that he was denied knowledge of the pregnancy.
I. Receipt by a putative father of a Notice of Plan for Adoption or return of the form does not obligate the mother of the minor to proceed with an adoptive placement of the minor.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 366, § 16, eff. Nov. 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 415, § 14, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998.