look up the word relinquish in the dictionary
it'll say this, voluntarily cease to keep
or claim give up relinquishment is
doing just that in regards to one's parental rights
to raise a child.
It's the legal process of one parent ending their rights
to parent a child. So
another parent can legally have them.
This happens for every adoption.
A birth mother who makes an adoption plan
must relinquish her rights to parent the child.
So the adoptive parents can have the right.
This is a voluntary process, meaning no one forces
the birth mother to sign this document regardless of her age.
It's a decision she makes for herself. As a birth parent
caseworker,
I've seen a lot of relinquishments.
Not only do I help facilitate their relinquishment
but there's emotional support for my client
and I help make sure that she understands the documents she's
about to sign.
Ultimately, it's a very selfless and sacrificial decision
made to give their child a better life than they
themselves could provide.