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Pareting is an exciting and enjoyable time for some and for others it can bring a great deal of stress and fear. If for any reason you feel you cannot parent your child, there are safe places where you can leave your baby. These safe places will take your baby with open arms, no questions asked. These secure places will make sure your baby receives the care and protection he or she deserves.
Safe Places to Leave your Baby
State law in South Dakota allows you to voluntarily leave your baby with a hospital or child placement agency if your child is less than 60 days old. Leaving your baby with one of these places is not a crime as long as your child has not been harmed.
You can leave your baby with:
You may be asked for medical information relating to your baby’s medical history. However, you will not be required to provide any information, including your name or the other parent’s name.
Your Parental Rights will be Terminated
Parental rights to your child will be terminated after 14 days. Your baby then becomes a ward of the state or the licensed child placement agency.
The place where you leave your baby must notify the Department of Social Services that it has your child. The Department cannot attempt to identify, contact or investigate you unless it appears your child has been harmed. The Department or the child placement agency will take custody and care for your baby.
Your baby’s other parent has the right to file for custody after you have given the baby up. To gain custody, the other parent has 30 days to prove he or she is the parent of your baby and that he or she did not consent to giving up the child’s custody.
If the other parent does not come forward and 60 days have passed, a circuit court hearing is held to terminate your parental rights. This means you no longer have any rights to your baby.
For more information on this law, see SDCL 25-5A-27 through 25-5A-35. If applicable, the Indian Child Welfare Act must be followed.