Parent or Guardian Placement (Infant Adoption)
Last updated on May 6, 2026Options for a child’s parent or guardian who are considering making an adoption plan for their child.
Parent or guardian placements happen when a parent or guardian decides to make an adoption plan for their child. In B.C., most parents or guardians who wish to place their child for adoption work with B.C. licensed adoption agencies to find a family for their child. The parent or guardian can choose how involved they want to be in the process, including selecting the adoptive family and staying in contact after the adoption. Typically, the child is an infant in this case, although they can be older.
- Birth fathers or guardians can sign consent after the baby is born
- Birth mothers must wait until their child is at least 10 days old until they sign consent
- Parents or guardians may withdraw consent for adoption within 30 days of the child's birth, even if the child has already been placed for adoption.
- Parents name the baby and register the child’s birth. A parent who believes they may have a child who will be or has been placed for adoption can register with the Parent’s Registry The Adoption Act requires that parents or guardians receive the information they need to make the right decision for them and their child. A BC licensed adoption agency or the Ministry of Children and Family Development can help by:
- Providing information about adoption and alternatives to adoption.
- Making referrals to support services.
- Supporting parents and guardians through the range of emotions that comes with placing a child for adoption.
Legal process and consent
Adoptions in B.C. follow the Adoption Act. A parent or guardian who wants to make an adoption plan for their child will need to speak to aworker either at a BC licensed adoption agency, or with the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Parents and guardians are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Placement Options
Parents and guardians can decide how involved they'd like to be in the adoption process – they can help choose the adoptive family and stay in contact after the adoption process is complete.
There are three options for placement:
B.C Licensed Adoption Agency placement
Parents or guardians place the child with an adoption agency until an appropriate adoptive family is found.
Ministry of Child and Family Placement
Parents or guardians place the child with MCFD until an appropriate adoptive family is found.
Direct Placement
Parents or guardians work with an agency to place the child with someone they know (who is not a relative). The prospective adoptive parents will have a pre-placement assessment completed by the BC licensed adoption agency. Parents/guardians and the adoptive parents share joint guardianship until the adoption order is made.
- BC licensed Adoption agencies provide services to parents or guardians at no cost.
- Adoption services provided to prospective adoptive parents are on a fee for service basis
Consent
To place a child for adoption, the parent or guardian must provide consent. The child's parents and/or guardians (there is no age limit for who can place their child for adoption; youth twelve and over do not need their parents' consent to place their child for adoption). The child, if they are 12 years old or over must also consent to their own adoption
At birth
The birth mother’s consent to adoption is not taken until at least 10 days after the birth of the child. The birth father or guardian may consent at any time after the birth of the child. Both parents/guardians may withdraw consent for adoption within 30 days of the child's birth, even if the child has already been placed for adoption.
Older children
Parents or guardians who have consented to an adoption may withdraw their consent before the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parents. Children 12 years of age and older who are being adopted may withdraw their consent at any time up until the adoption order is made by the court.
If a child or youth or their parents are members of an Indigenous Community, that community must be involved in planning for that child or youth.
Medical Information & Family History
Parents should share as much medical and social history about themselves and their families as they can to insure their child is provided the best care, and that cultural community information, social information, and other important information is shared with and preserved for the child. This information is gathered by the licensed BC adoption agency or MCFD, and is kept on record.
Openness Agreement
If it's in the child or youth's best interest, parents/guardians and adoptive parents are encouraged to negotiate an openness agreement – it outlines the different ways that parents, extended family members and the adoptive family will communicate or make contact after the adoption process is complete.