[Cheryl101]

I have told that to people when they asked about questionable practices in Guatemalan adoption. But when I was picking up Alex in June I met another couple there on a visit trip. THe mom to be was telling me that she had been worried that the birthmother would change her mind at some point (something that many of us have worried about), but her lawyer told her not to worry b/c the at the FIRST meeting with the birthmother, she signs a power of attorney giving the lawyer power to sign for her the other 3 times!

I found this very distressing. I didn't say anything to her, b/c she seemed to find this to be a relief, but I really want my adoption to be above board and this is not above board. It is also not what we are told. I wonder how common this is.

[Tamiswaiting]

Well, that's not possible for 3 times, anyway. She has to sign at relinquishment, obviously, but she also definitely signs at DNA and the SWI where she's there WITH the baby. The only time she can do the POA is for the final sign off. She must've misunderstood.

[BrandyHagz]

I think they started 'frowning' on this last fall. But it used to be very common...

ETA: Yes, for final sign off...not all four.

[dspakowsky]

PoA's are fairly common. The birthmom can pull her PoA at any time. However, she may be influenced one way or another.

She must physically go to DNA and Family Court.

Also, just because there's a PoA doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Sometimes it's done because it's difficult for the b-mom to travel to the city due to employment, other family commitments, etc.

[beachdreams]

I could be wrong but I am pretty sure the only time the attorney has the POA to sign for her is after getting out of PGN.

[ej-momtobe]

You can look on your adoption paperwork to see if she actually signed to protocolo of if POA was used.

I beileve that even if they do a POA, they have the power to revoke it before the adoption is complete, but who knows if they know that, or know how to do it.

[Mindybeth6]

Our final protocolo was signed by the POA. I didn't even know we HAD a POA until I went through the documents. It didn't bother me personally because my attorney still had contact with our birthmother and we have since been able to send her pictures and letters. She would have been there to sign if she needed to be. But from what I understand that is the ONLY time the POA can be used for a signature, which makes sense like someone already stated because the birthmother has to sign at DNA and SWI, so that makes three times FOR SURE she signs.
Hugs

[kimy]

Yep, it's very common ... I wrote a big heart felt letter to the Birth Mom and was told that they would wait till the final sign off to give it to her blah , blah, blah.... I also asked if they could write down something she said so I could give it to my son.
Then when the day came for the final sign off they said she wasn't able to say anything and that they couldn't give her the letter.....lie, lie, lie.
Not until I went for pick up , our translater who happend to work undercover for my Agency (he would go behind our evil coordinator and make sure things got done) told me about this POA thing and told me that's what happend...
I was so furious because I knew nothing about this.
It should not be allowed EVER.
Kim

[linda512]

Originally Posted by kimy

It should not be allowed EVER.
Kim

EVER might be a bit dramatic. It can be very hard for the birth mother to get to and from the city to sign off. My son's birthmother had to travel 12 hours by bus with her 5 other kids to get to GC. And she had to do it twice for DNA because it was screwed up the first time. Fortunately, my agency went to her for the final sign off so she did not have to travel. But it could be very difficult for some mothers to get to where they need to be. And they may not want to- they may not have told family about the baby and the adoption, or there may be other reasons. I want my adoption to be without question also, but I can see why some mothers may sign a POA.

[dspakowsky]

Originally Posted by kimy

It should not be allowed EVER.
Kim

I disagree. In many villages it's VERY dangerous to place you child for adoption. So, if a mom moves back home after the baby (assuming no one knows) but then has transportation money all the sudden, appointments to attend to [ie, needing time off work]or people picking her up in cars, it can a danger to her. Or, she could have 10 other children to care for, so making things easier for her is valuable.

[SKL]

Well, the birth mom has to sign the POA too, so that still makes four signatures.

But anyway, lately from what I've been reading, they generally have the birth mother actually sign. However, considering the length of the adoptions and the fact that the birth mothers do sometimes have to move to other cities to work, a POA makes a lot of sense. After all, here in the US (from what others on this forum say), birth mothers only get a couple of days to change their minds - much less than what the Guatemalan birth mother has, even if she only signs the first three sign-offs. I think an adoption can still be ethical if the birth mom doesn't personally sign again after the baby has been in foster care for seven months or so.

[wvamom]

I suppose it could be misleading to think that the bmom signs off four times when she can actually use a poa for at least one of those times; however, for domestic adoption the bmom only signs off one time, so I'm not sure how it's any worse than here in the U.S.

[JillnChris]

I am going to risk being the odd one here and say that this really does not bother me. The birthmother signs the first three times and if she chooses to sign a POA for the fourth time then I do see why that is wrong. Especially if she lives far away and it is not easy for her to get there.
Of course she should still be allowed to change her mind up until that point.

[kathleenmarie]

I can see where sometimes the birthmother really is not able to make that final signature. Sometimes the birthmother lives very far away and she has work/ transportation issues. If she does need to be there for several of the signatures, and she is able to rebuke the POA I dont see anything wrong with this practice.

[angieandstever]

Originally Posted by dspakowsky

I disagree. In many villages it's VERY dangerous to place you child for adoption. So, if a mom moves back home after the baby (assuming no one knows) but then has transportation money all the sudden, appointments to attend to [ie, needing time off work]or people picking her up in cars, it can a danger to her. Or, she could have 10 other children to care for, so making things easier for her is valuable.

I second this. I know it was dangerous for our daughter's biological mother. She said no one knew she was pregnant and she didn't want contact because she couldn't risk people finding out. She did actually sign off for the 4th time though but I would have much rather them used a POA than for her to risk her life and the lives of her family. In many cases it does comes down to this.