Cooper's Law

Many of you may already know one of my favorite adoption advocates here in Oklahoma named Molly. Usually when people find out we adopted, they usually tell me a story about a couple who adopted 4 children...I always know who they're talking about- it's Molly. Because you can't know her and not be touched by their hearts, their story, and their beautiful children.

A couple of years ago, Molly and other adoption advocates started the process to change the adoption laws in Oklahoma by proposing Coopers Law. For the full text of the law (it's lengthy), click here 39 other states have similar legislation and it's time Oklahoma updated their laws to protect ALL parties involved.

Today in Oklahoma, a birth father can relinquish his rights to a child by simply signing a piece of paper. A birth mother, on the other hand, must appear in court before a judge who asks detailed and often uncomfortable questions, which not only intimidates many birth mothers, but may altogether change her mind about doing what she knows in her heart is best for the child.

Coopers law allows a birth mother the same rights as the birth father- the opportunity to relinquish her rights in a neutral environment without having to appear before a judge. Some people may argue that this law might allow a birthmother to be coerced to place her child. But part of the law requires the woman to allow two people of her own choosing to sign the papers as witness to her decision. Those witnesses may not be the lawyers or adoptive parents.

The time frame written into this law will change the scariest part of domestic adoptions in Oklahoma. The birth mother may relinquish rights 48 hours after the child is born. This not only protects birth mothers from waiting 8-30 days after childbirth to go to court to relinquish, it also protects the adoptive family from having the child placed in their home and then taken away.

My husband and I had our precious son at home with us for 30 days before the court date for birth parent relinquishment. In our case, the birth father showed up (after refusing to support the birth mother or child) and requested the child. We almost lost our baby boy.

Molly's baby boy Cooper (after whom the law is named) was taken back by his birth mother before her court date- to the utter devastation of Molly and her family. Two days later, she gave him back to Molly. What an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved!

These are exactly the scary situations that keep families from adopting a child.

And after two years of working to get this law before legislators, new developments have been happening! An adoption advocate attorney is presenting it to his legislature buddies trying to get it on the agenda for the fall. Please join us in praying for the law to change!