Alaska Relinquishment, Consent, Revocation laws

Who Must Consent:

• The mother.
  
• The father if married to the mother.
  
• The father by adoption, or otherwise legitimized.
  
• Any person lawfully entitled to custody or consent.
  
• The court.
  

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Consent of Adoptee:

A child 10 years or older must consent to the adoption, unless the court in the child's best interest dispenses with consent.

When Parental Consent is Not Needed:

Parent has:

• Abandoned the child.
  
• Failed to communicate with or support the child.
  
• Had rights terminated.
  
• Been declared incompetent.
  
• The child is 19 years or older.
  

When Relinquishment Can Be Signed:

May be executed any time after the child's birth.

How Relinquishment Must Be Signed:

Consent is executed:

• Before the court.
  
• Before a person authorized to take acknowledgments.

Time for Revocation:

• May be withdrawn before entry of decree for any reason within 10 days of executing consent.
  
• After 10 day period, court must find withdrawal to be in child's best interest.
  
• Consent to adoption may not be withdrawn after the entry of a decree of adoption.
  

Adapted from materials prepared by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.