Wyoming Relinquishment, Consent, Revocation laws

Who Must Consent:

• Both parents, if living.
  
• Mother and putative father, if known.
  
• Legal guardian.
  
• The head of the agency to which the child has been relinquished.
  
• Legal custodian.
  
• The guardian of any parent adjudged mentally incompetent.
  

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Consent of Adoptee:

A child 14 years or older must consent to the adoption.

When Parental Consent is Not Needed:

• When parent fails to respond to notice.
  
• Parental rights have been terminated.
  
• Parent has abandoned the child or been adjudged guilty of child abuse or neglect.
  
• Child was conceived as a result of rape or incest for which the father was convicted.
  
• Parent fails to meet support obligation.
  
• A putative father fails to acknowledge paternity.
  
  

When Relinquishment Can Be Signed:

• Consent shall be executed any time after the child's birth.
  
• Written relinquishment of custody and written consent are required; both may be included in the same document.
  

How Relinquishment Must Be Signed:

• Consent may be acknowledged by an authorized person or representative of the department or the agency to whom custody is being relinquished.
  
• It may also be approved by the court.
  
  

Time for Revocation:

• Consent irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress.
  
• If the court should deny the adoption due to claim of putative father, the court may allow mother to withdraw consent.
  
  

Adapted from materials prepared by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.