Safe Haven Laws

Who Can Surrender a Baby?


A journey like parenthood can be difficult, and it’s not a path that’s right for everybody. That is completely OK. You may have made this discovery yourself months after you took your baby home from the hospital.

Now, you know that parenting isn’t right for you, so you might be curious about who can surrender a baby safely and legally. But, there is another option we’re here to tell you about.

To get more free information now, you can fill out our online contact form at any time. But, we have put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand how to surrender a baby in a safe, legal and ethical manner.

Can I Abandon My Baby? [And Where Can One Safely Leave a Baby?]

You have recently realized that you are not ready to raise a child right now, and you may be thinking, “I want to abandon my baby at a Safe Haven.” But, there is another option: adoption with a private agency. Even if you have been taking care of your baby for months, adoption is still an option.

When you place your baby for adoption, you are in complete control of your adoption process from the beginning to the end. Your trusted adoption professional will sit down with you and help you create your adoption plan, which outlines all your needs and preferences for your journey. Don’t feel overwhelmed, though. Your professional will do all the heavy lifting for you while you get to call all the shots.

You may be asking, “Where can I abandon my baby,” but, before we answer that question, we want you to know that adoption could be a great alternative for your circumstances. Below, we’ll go into detail about some of the biggest benefits of adoption for prospective birth mothers.

Adoption Financial Assistance

Adoption is always 100% free for prospective birth mothers. If you weren’t considering adoption because you thought you would have to pay for it, then you can rest assured that you would not have to pay any costs related to the adoption.

This is because of something known as adoption financial assistance, which the adoption agency and adoptive parents provide to ensure that you don’t have to fret over the finances.  You are already making the selfless, brave and heroic decision by choosing adoption. The last thing you should be worrying about is money.

Choosing the Right Adoptive Family for Your Baby

When you are surrendering a baby, you have no say over where they end up.  For instance, they could end up in foster care even if that is against your personal wishes. Adoption, on the other hand, ensures that you can find the right adoptive family for your baby. You have complete control over where your baby goes, and you can choose the perfect adoptive parents for them.

The Ability to Build a Lifelong Bond with Your Child

The vast majority of adoptions today are open. In other words, this means that you can stay in touch with both your child and the adoptive family long after placement occurs.

Open adoption is when both parties share identifying and contact information, and it ensures that adoption is not “goodbye” but, instead, “see you later.” When you safely surrender your baby, there is no guarantee that you will ever see your child again. Open adoption means that you will build a lifelong bond with them.

As we mentioned earlier, you are in complete control of your adoption journey as a prospective birth mother. You get to call all the shots. One of the choices that you’ll get to make is the form of communication you’ll use with your child and the adoptive family. For example, you can all maintain contact through:

  • Zoom or Skype chats
  • In-person visits
  • Phone calls
  • Handwritten letters
  • Emails
  • Photographs
  • Or whatever you feel comfortable with

The Ability to Remain Anonymous through Closed Adoption

Although closed adoption is uncommon today, you can always choose this path if it is right for you and your baby. One of the main reasons that you may be looking for a baby surrender site for abandoned infants is that you want to remain anonymous.

But, you might not have known that you can also keep all your information confidential through a closed adoption. Your reputable adoption professional will respect your privacy and not share any of your identifying information with the adoptive family.

Frequently Asked Questions about Who Can Surrender a Baby

If you have considered adoption and still feel like a safe surrender baby program is the best option for you, then we have provided a list of frequently asked questions (and answers) below. Remember to never abandon a baby in unsafe conditions. If you plan on surrendering your baby, then leaving your baby at a safe place, like a fire station or a hospital, is the way to go about it. Always search for safe places you can leave a baby.

Where Can You Surrender a Baby?

In many states, a designated Safe Haven location is a fire station, a church or a hospital. But, be sure to check with your state’s Safe Haven laws to learn how to anonymously leave a baby in your state. This way, you can avoid child abandonment charges.

Who Can Surrender a Baby?

In some states, only a mother can legally surrender her baby. In other states, either parent can do so. Also, other family members acting on the parents’ behalf may be able to surrender the baby. So, be sure to check your state’s laws before you move forward with your plan.

What Information Is Needed to Surrender a Baby?

You can surrender your baby anonymously, but you might be asked to provide some information when you leave them at a designated Safe Haven site. For instance, you may need to provide your medical history and your baby’s medical information if you leave them at a hospital. This depends on the location and your state of residence.

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If you would like to get more adoption information now or learn where to leave an “unwanted” baby, then you can contact us online at any time. We are happy to help you in whatever way that we can.


Ready to get started? Contact an adoption agency now to get free information.

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