health.state.mn.us Register for Fathers’ Adoption : Minnesota Department of Health

Name of the Organization : Minnesota Department of Health
Type of Facility : Register for Fathers’ Adoption
State : Minnesota
Country : United States of America

Website : https://www.health.state.mn.us/
Application Form : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/24637-farregform.pdf

Minnesota Fathers’ Adoption Registry (MFAR) :

** The Minnesota Fathers’ Adoption Registry (MFAR) was created by the Minnesota Legislature (MN Statutes, section 259.52) to allow possible biological, but not as yet, legal fathers to receive notice of pending adoption proceedings for their children.

Related : Minnesota Department of Health Birth Certificate : www.statusin.org/8028.html

** By registering within 30 days of his child’s birth, a ‘putative’ father ensures that he will be able to participate in the decisions that impact his child.
** A goal of the Registry is to balance the interests of the mother, child, and father when an adoption plan is being considered.
** Another goal is to stabilize the adoption process by placing time limits on a putative father’s opportunity to assert his rights.

Instructions to complete the Registration form :
1) Read instructions thoroughly
2) Print out the MFAR Registration Form (PDF)
3) Fill out form
4) You must be sure to sign the form or it will not be processed
5) Mail form to the Minnesota Fathers’ Adoption Registry

What is a “Putative Father”?
** A man who may be a child’s biological father, but who is not married to the child’s mother on or before the date that the child was or is to be born has not established paternity of the child in a court proceeding.

** The Fathers’ Adoption Registry was created to allow putative fathers to register and thus receive notice from the court if plans to place the child for adoption are made.
** A man may register before the child is born, but must register within thirty days of the child’s birth to ensure that his rights are protected.
** Registering only allows a putative father to receive notice of a pending adoption – it does not establish him as the child’s legal father.

If he is notified that an adoption plan is pending, he has three options :
** he may move to establish himself as the child’s legal father;
** he may deny paternity and consent to the child’s adoption;
** he may do nothing, letting the time limits expire, resulting in the termination of his potential for parental rights.
** Limitations of a father’s rights due to failure to register apply only in adoption proceedings, and apply only to putative fathers who may not otherwise receive notice of the adoption.
** If there is no adoption, the information may be used to contact the father about financial support for his child.

Notification of the Birth Mother :
** The woman named as the child’s mother on the putative father’s registration will be notified in writing by the Father’s Adoption Registry.
** This notification will consist of a letter briefly explaining the Registry and a copy of the putative father’s completed registration form.

Completing the Registration Form :
** It is very important to complete the form as thoroughly and legibly as possible.
** The information provided will be used to match the father with the biological mother’s and child’s information when the registry is searched prior to the child’s adoption proceedings.

Information About the Father :
** Print your full name and street address – the court cannot send notification to a P.O. Box.
** Include your Social Security number.
** Include other names that you are known by – especially names the child’s mother may know you as.
** If you do not have a street address, you may designate an ‘agent’ who does, and is willing to receive the notice for you.

Information About the Child’s Mother :
** Print the full name, and include as much of the requested information as possible.
** If you are not sure of exact information, include as what you believe to be true.

Information About the Child :
** Print child’s name, if known, and include as much of the requested information as possible.
** Include any and all information about the child, even if you are not exactly sure of dates and/or places.

Sign the Registration Form :
** Without your signature, your registration cannot be processed.
** Mail or bring the completed form to the Minnesota Department of Health

Note :
** If you have any questions about the registration form, the registry process, or general questions or concerns, please call the registry toll free at 1-888-345-1726.

Fathers’ Adoption Registry
Minnesota Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 64499
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0499