Adoption Consent Form - Maine
PARENTAL CONSENT TO ADOPTION
State of Maine — Court Consent
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [ADOPTION PETITIONER(S)] | Petitioner(s) |
| [CHILD'S CURRENT LEGAL NAME] | Child to be adopted |
Adoption petition court: ☐ Probate Court, [COUNTY] County ☐ District Court, [DIVISION] (if it has jurisdiction under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-103(2))
Adoption petition docket number: [________________________________]
Court where this consent is executed: [COURT AND COUNTY]
Petition filing date: [__/__/____]
Before signing: A petition for adoption must be pending before this consent is executed. A parent may sign no sooner than 72 hours after the child's birth and must sign in the judge's presence. For an out-of-state parent whose state has no court of comparable jurisdiction, § 9-202(9) permits a court-approved remote appearance by videoconference after a motion. See 18-C M.R.S. §§ 9-302(1) and 9-202(1), (9).
1. CHILD AND PROPOSED ADOPTION
Child's full current legal name: [________________________________]
Date and time of birth: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
Petitioner(s) who would adopt the child: [________________________________]
Relationship of petitioner(s) to child: [________________________________]
This consent applies only to adoption of the child by the petitioner(s) named above. It is a consent to adoption by specified petitioner(s) under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-202(1)(B); it is not a surrender and release to an agency.
2. PARENTAL CONSENT
Each parent signing below states individually:
- I am the child's legal parent and consent to adoption of the child by the petitioner(s) named in Section 1, subject to court approval. My signature does not itself enter a decree of adoption.
- I sign freely after being informed of my parental rights and responsibilities and the effect of this consent. I understand that an adoption decree, if entered, has the effect stated in 18-C M.R.S. § 9-308(6).
- I am signing at least 72 hours after the child's birth and in the presence of the judge, as required by § 9-202(1).
- The court has explained my rights, the effect of this consent, the applicable five working day revocation period or petitioner exception, and the adoption registry and services identified in § 9-202(2)(B).
- Unless I am also a petitioner, I understand this consent is not valid until five working days after execution and may be withdrawn or revoked during that period before the judge or, if the judge is unavailable, before the register. Except for the statutory exceptions in §§ 9-202(7) and 9-205(2), it becomes final and irrevocable when the court approves it under § 9-202(2).
Parent 1 full legal name: [________________________________]
☐ I am also a petitioner adopting my own child with my spouse; the exception in § 9-202(4) applies.
Parent 1 signature, signed before the judge (in person or by approved videoconference): _________________________________
Date and time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
☐ Parent 1 appeared by videoconference under a court-approved motion pursuant to § 9-202(9): [ORDER DATE AND CASE NUMBER].
Parent 2 full legal name, if that parent's consent is required: [________________________________]
☐ I am also a petitioner adopting my own child with my spouse; the exception in § 9-202(4) applies.
Parent 2 signature, signed before the judge (in person or by approved videoconference): _________________________________
Date and time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
☐ Parent 2 appeared by videoconference under a court-approved motion pursuant to § 9-202(9): [ORDER DATE AND CASE NUMBER].
Parent whose consent is not provided here: [NAME OR "NONE"]
Court determination or other legal basis for proceeding without that parent's consent under § 9-302(2), if applicable: [ORDER AND CASE NUMBER]
3. CHILD'S CONSENT, IF REQUIRED
Under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-302(1)(A), the child must give written consent if age 12 or older. Under § 9-202(1), a child age 14 or older signs that consent in the judge's presence. A child younger than 12 does not sign this section.
☐ Child is under 12; this section does not apply.
☐ Child is age 12 or 13 and consents in writing to this adoption.
☐ Child is age 14 or older and consents in writing in the judge's presence.
I, [CHILD'S FULL NAME], consent to adoption by the petitioner(s) named in Section 1.
Child's signature, if age 12 or older: _________________________________
Date and time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
4. COUNSELING CERTIFICATION AND REVIEW
☐ Certification from a licensed child-placing agency or the department that counseling was provided or offered and refused is attached. See 18-C M.R.S. § 9-202(2)(A).
☐ Counseling certification exception applies because ☐ a petitioner is a blood relative ☐ the adoptee is an adult. State basis: [________________________________]
If the petition is withdrawn or dismissed, or the adoption is not finalized within 18 months of this consent, the court must conduct the review required by §§ 9-202(7) and 9-205. That review does not automatically void this consent.
5. JUDICIAL EXECUTION AND APPROVAL
A. Execution Before the Judge
I witnessed Parent 1 sign on [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM.
☐ I also witnessed Parent 2 sign on [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM.
☐ I witnessed the child, age 14 or older, sign on [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ AM ☐ PM.
☐ I approved the identified out-of-state parent's appearance by videoconference after a motion under § 9-202(9) and witnessed that parent sign remotely. Parent: [________________________________]; order: [________________________________].
Judge's signature: _________________________________
Judge and court: [________________________________]
B. Court Approval
The court finds, under 18-C M.R.S. § 9-202(1)-(2):
☐ This consent is in the child's best interest.
☐ The required counseling certification is attached, or the statutory exception identified above applies.
☐ The court explained the rights, effect, revocation rule, and registry information required by § 9-202(2)(B).
☐ Each parent signed before the judge, in person or through a videoconference appearance approved under § 9-202(9), freely and after being informed of parental rights.
☐ For each consenting parent who is not also a petitioner, at least five working days have elapsed since execution without withdrawal or revocation before the judge or register.
☐ A consenting parent is also a petitioner; the applicable statutory exception has been identified above.
Decision: ☐ Approved ☐ Not approved
Date: [__/__/____]
Judge's signature: _________________________________
Judge and court: [________________________________]
Filing: File the original in the court where consent was executed and an attested copy in the court where the adoption petition is filed, as required by 18-C M.R.S. § 9-202(3).
SOURCES AND REFERENCES
About this template
- Last updated
- October 17, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 17, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Maine
- Category
- Family Law
Legal authority
- 18-C M.R.S. § 9-103 (Probate Court jurisdiction; limited District Court exception)
- 18-C M.R.S. § 9-104 (venue and transfer)
- 18-C M.R.S. § 9-202 (parental surrender, consent, court approval, and revocation)
- 18-C M.R.S. § 9-302 (persons whose written consent is required)
- 18-C M.R.S. § 9-308 (final decree and effect of adoption)
Family law covers the paperwork that shapes divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, and other family matters. These filings are emotional and high-stakes, and they also have to meet strict procedural rules for service, financial disclosure, and parenting plans. Clean, accurate paperwork keeps the focus on getting a workable outcome for the family instead of getting derailed by technical problems that delay hearings or force amended filings.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 17, 2026.
18-C M.R.S. § 9-103(1) (checked October 17, 2026): "Subject to Title 4, section 152, subsection 5-A, the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following: A. Petitions for adoption;"
18-C M.R.S. § 9-103(2) (checked October 17, 2026): "The District Court has jurisdiction over any matter described in subsection 1 if the proceeding concerns a child over whom the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction pursuant to Title 4, section 152, subsection 5-A."
18-C M.R.S. § 9-104(2) (checked October 17, 2026): "If an adoptee is not placed by a licensed child-placing agency or the department, the petition for adoption must be filed in the county or division where the adoptee resides or where the petitioners reside."
18-C M.R.S. § 9-202(1) (checked October 17, 2026): "With the approval of the court of any county within the State and after a determination by the court that a surrender and release or a consent is in the best interest of the child, the parents or surviving parent of a child may at any time at least 72 hours after the child's birth:"
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