A recent episode of the Dr. Phil Show focused on the story of a family who adopted a Native American child, and over three years later, the birthmother is reclaiming her child, apparently because of an error made by the adoptive parents' attorney. As explained on the show, under the terms of ICWA, the Indian Child Welfare Act, relinquishment must be signed in front of a judge (even if that is not a usual requirement in the state), otherwise the relinquishing parent(s) can reclaim their child at any time - and in this case, relinquishment was not signed in front of a judge.
Read more from the Dr. Phil Show about
Deperate to protect Christian
and more information on
ICWA and the history behind its enactment.