Safe Surrender: The Legal Way to Give Up Your Baby

The news reports babies being abandoned by parents; and more often than not, these newborn babies are left in unsafe locations. However, in the state of California, it is illegal to abandon babies regardless of how desperate a parent is. That is where the Safely Surrendered Baby Law comes to the rescue of parents who do not have support during their pregnancy, do not have the means to take care of the baby, or panic because they do not want others to know that they are pregnant.

What Does the Law Permit?

The law allows parents to safely surrender their baby within three days of the birth at a safe surrender site. The law protects the confidentiality of the parents while also protecting them from legal repercussions for abandoning the baby. The parent even does not have to reveal their name at the time of surrendering the baby.

The key is to find a safe surrender site, which is usually a fire station, or a hospital. All hospitals in California are designated safe surrender sites. When you take your baby for safe surrender, you will be provided with an ID bracelet, and a matching bracelet is also put on the baby. This is done so that if you change your mind about surrendering the baby, you have the freedom to reclaim him or her. You have 14 days to change your mind.

Once you surrender your baby, you do not have to worry about being prosecuted. Instead, you can rest assured knowing that your little one will be placed in an adoptive home with adoptive parents, who will love and take care of the baby.

Deciding About Safe Surrender

If you get pregnant unexpectedly, and you are in a difficult position, do not take any drastic measures. Instead, visit a pregnancy care center, like Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic, CA, where you will be able to speak to a patient advocate, who will give you the different options. Thereafter, you will meet with a registered nurse, who will first conduct a urine pregnancy test to reconfirm your pregnancy and get details about your medical history.

Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic will ensure you get access to the local resources and services so that you receive the support you need during and even after your pregnancy. If you still feel that giving up your baby is the best option for you and the baby, you can go ahead with safe surrender. This is like an accelerated adoption process.

You can be involved in the adoption process, and help select the right home for your baby. And, in many cases, biological parents are allowed to keep in touch with their baby and the adoptive parents if they desire.

The Final Words

In case you are not ready for parenthood, safe surrender in California gives you a guilt-free way to ensure your baby’s health and well-being. However, make sure you visit a pregnancy care center like Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic in Mendocino County in California, where you will be able to get the right consultation and healthcare you deserve during pregnancy. With that worry out of the way, you will be in a better position to decide if safe surrender is the right choice for you and your baby.

Contact us to schedule a free appointment.

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