§ 2-407. Consequences of consent or relinquishment
(a) Except under a circumstance stated in section 2-408 of this title, a consent to the adoption of a minor, which consent is executed by a parent or guardian
in substantial compliance with sections 2-405 and 2-406 of this title, is final and irrevocable 21 days after execution, and:
(1) unless a court orders otherwise to protect the welfare of the minor, entitles the
prospective adoptive parent named or described in the consent to the legal and physical
custody of the minor, and imposes on that person responsibility for the support and
medical and other care of the minor;
(2) terminates any responsibility of a parent who executed the consent with respect to
the minor, including child support (except for arrearages) upon filing the consent
with the Family Division of the Superior Court that entered the child support order
and notifying the office of child support; and
(3) terminates any right of a parent or guardian who executed the consent to object to
the minor’s adoption by the prospective adoptive parent unless otherwise provided
in the consent.
(b) Except under a circumstance stated in section 2-409 of this title, a relinquishment of a minor to an agency executed in substantial compliance with
sections 2-405 and 2-406 is final and irrevocable 21 days after it is executed, and:
(1) unless a court orders otherwise to protect the welfare of the minor, entitles the
agency to the legal custody of the minor until a decree of adoption becomes final;
(2) empowers the agency to:
(A) place the minor for adoption;
(B) consent to the minor’s adoption; and
(C) delegate to a prospective adoptive parent responsibility for the support and medical
and other care of the minor;
(3) terminates any responsibility of the person who executed the relinquishment with respect
to the minor, including child support (except for arrearages) upon filing the relinquishment
with the Family Division of the Superior Court that entered the child support order
notifying the office of child support; and
(4) terminates any right of the person who executed the relinquishment to object to the
minor’s adoption and, unless otherwise provided in the relinquishment, any right to
notice of the proceeding for adoption. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154, § 238.)