Child Welfare Services

ORS 418.270
Surrender of child to child-caring agency

  • consent to adoption
  • time for adoption proceedings
  • effect of release and surrender

(1)

If licensed for such purposes by the Department of Human Services, a child-caring agency may receive children from the children’s parents or legal guardians for special, temporary or continued care. The parents or guardians may sign releases or surrenders giving to the agency guardianship and control of the children during the period of care, which may be extended until the children arrive at legal age. Releases do not surrender the rights of parents or guardians in respect to the adoption of children and do not entitle the agency to give consent to the adoption of the children unless the release or surrender expressly recites that the release or surrender is given for the purpose of adoption. Child-caring agencies are authorized to place children for adoption or family foster care only if authorized by the department in the license issued by the department to the agency.

(2)

Severance of family ties with children by adoption or otherwise may be accomplished only by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(3)

In the absence of the certificate provided for in subsection (4) of this section, it is unlawful to present a child released or surrendered to a child-caring agency by a parent, parents or guardian for a court to pass upon the adoption of the child until at least six months have elapsed after signing the release or surrender.

(4)

Parents or guardians who have given a child into the guardianship of a child-caring agency by release or surrender under this section for the purpose of adoption may, concurrently or subsequently and without any adoption proceeding having been initiated, agree that the release or surrender shall become irrevocable as soon as the child is placed by the agency in the physical custody of a person or persons for the purpose of adoption, and waive their right to personal appearance in court in matters of adoption of the child, by a duly signed and attested certificate. From and after physical placement for adoption, the certificate of irrevocability and waiver and the release or surrender may not be revoked by the parent or guardian unless fraud or duress is affirmatively proved.

(5)

No agreement to release or surrender a child for adoption, or other agreement or waiver of rights having the same effect, executed before March 24, 1971, in connection with the surrender of a child into the guardianship of a child-caring agency for purposes of adoption, may be revoked or held invalid for any reason except upon affirmative proof of fraud or duress. [Formerly 419.128; 1971 c.26 §1; 1975 c.310 §7; 1983 c.510 §10; 2016 c.106 §14]

Notes of Decisions

This section was not unconstitutional as denying due process or equal protection of the laws under the U.S. Constitution. McCurdy v. Albertina Kerr Homes, Inc., 9 Or App 536, 498 P2d 392 (1972)

Atty. Gen. Opinions

Organizations that promote and arrange surrogacy contracts must comply with laws governing private child-caring agencies, (1989) Vol 46, p 221

Chapter 418

Notes of Decisions

Where plaintiffs brought action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 alleging violation of federal civil rights after defendant Children's Services Division employees removed plaintiffs' child from home following reports of abuse, CSD workers entitled to absolute immunity in investigation, taking child into custody and keeping plaintiffs from visiting child. Tennyson v. Children's Services Division, 308 Or 80, 775 P2d 1365 (1989)

Source

Last accessed
Jun. 26, 2021

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