Okla. Stat. tit. 10, § 10-7503-3.1

A. 1. Before or after the birth of a minor born out of

wedlock, the Department of Human Services, a licensed child-placing

agency, or an attorney representing prospective adoptive parents of

the minor may, by in-hand service to the putative father or

certified mail to the putative father, to be signed by the putative

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10. Children Page 319

father only, notify or cause to be notified a putative father of the

minor that the mother of the child is considering an adoptive

placement for the minor through a Notice of Plan for Adoption. If

service of the Notice of Plan for Adoption is made by in-hand

service, delivery of the Notice must be made by a person licensed to

make service of process in civil cases. Residence service delivered

to or signed by a person residing in the home of the putative father

or any other forms of substitute service shall not be sufficient

service pursuant to this subsection.

2. Service of a Notice of Plan for Adoption may be served in

the manner permitted in this subsection upon a putative father

within this state or outside of this state.

B. The Notice of Plan for Adoption shall include the following:

1. The identity of the mother, that she is pregnant and the

estimated date of birth, that the notified person may be the father

of the minor, and that a plan for the adoption of the minor is being

considered by the mother;

2. A preaddressed form for filing by mail or in person with the

Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services and a copy to

be returned to the attorney or agency who sent it. On this form,

the recipient shall sign the form and indicate one of the following

choices:

a. "I do not know if I am the father of this minor. I

desire to receive notice of the adoption proceedings

or the proceeding to terminate parental rights. I

understand that this creates no evidence that could be

introduced in court to prove paternity. Its only

legal effect is to entitle me to notice, at the

address listed on the form, of an adoption proceeding

that may be filed after the birth of the minor."

b. "I hereby file my notice of intent to claim paternity.

I understand that a notice of intent to claim

paternity may be revoked at any time by filing a

notice to disclaim with the Paternity Registry of the

Department of Human Services. I also understand that

an unrevoked notice of intent to claim paternity may

be used as evidence in any future court proceeding in

which it may be relevant, including a child support

proceeding. I desire to receive notice of the

adoption proceeding or the proceeding to terminate

parental rights."

c. "I acknowledge paternity. I understand that this

acknowledgement of paternity cannot be revoked and may

be used as evidence in any future court proceeding in

which it may be relevant, including a child support

proceeding. I desire to receive notice of the

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adoption proceeding or the proceeding to terminate

parental rights."

d. "I deny paternity. I am not the father of the minor

and I do not want to receive notice of any adoption

proceeding, or proceeding to terminate my parental

rights regarding the minor. I understand that I am

waiving and surrendering any parental rights in

relation to the minor in connection with the adoption

of the minor. I understand that my consent to the

adoption will not be required."

e. "I may or may not be the father of the minor. I do

not want to receive notice of any adoption proceeding,

or proceeding to terminate my parental rights

regarding the minor. I understand that I am waiving

and surrendering any parental rights in relation to

the minor in connection with the adoption of the

minor. I understand that my consent to the adoption

will not be required."

3. In addition, the Notice of Plan for Adoption shall inform

the putative father that:

a. if the form is not received by the Department of Human
my parental rights

regarding the minor. I understand that I am waiving

and surrendering any parental rights in relation to

the minor in connection with the adoption of the

minor. I understand that my consent to the adoption

will not be required."

3. In addition, the Notice of Plan for Adoption shall inform

the putative father that:

a. if the form is not received by the Department of Human

Services or the attorney or child-placing agency

sending it within thirty (30) days from the date that

the Notice of Plan for Adoption is served, the failure

to file the form shall constitute:

(1) a waiver of the right to receive further notice

of any adoption proceedings or proceedings to

terminate parental rights, if any, that may be

filed regarding the minor,

(2) a denial of interest in the minor, which denial

shall result in the court's termination of the

notified party's parental rights to the minor and

approval of an adoption without his consent if an

adoption proceeding is filed regarding the minor

and the adoption is approved by the court,

b. if the form is received by the Paternity Registry of

the Department of Human Services or the attorney or

child-placing agency sending it within thirty (30)

days of the date of service of the Notice of Plan for

Adoption, and it indicates that any of the options

specified in subparagraphs a, b and c of paragraph 2

of this subsection have been chosen, the notified

person shall have a right to receive notice of any

adoption proceedings or any termination of parental

rights proceedings that may be filed regarding the

minor, at the address given by the putative father on

the form, or at an address later provided to the

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Paternity Registry of the Department of Human

Services. The return of the form to the Paternity

Registry of the Department of Human Services or the

attorney or child-placing agency sending the form is

the only action by which the notified person will

retain the right, if any, to notice of adoption or

termination of parental rights proceedings regarding

the minor,

c. the filing of the enclosed form shall not, by itself,

constitute the bearing of parental responsibilities,

and shall not, by itself, establish parental rights,

d. the filing of the enclosed form or the failure to file

the enclosed form shall not affect the duty to support

the mother or child during the pregnancy or after the

delivery of the minor,

e. if a petition to adopt the minor is not filed within

twelve (12) months of the placement of the minor for

adoption, failure to mail the enclosed notice form

shall not affect the notified person's parental rights

and responsibilities,

f. the failure to give such notice shall not be grounds

available to the father to establish that he was

denied knowledge of the pregnancy, and

g. receipt by a putative father of a Notice of Plan for

Adoption or return of the form does not obligate the

mother of the minor to proceed with an adoptive

placement of the minor.

C. If the form is not received by the Paternity Registry of the

Department of Human Services, the attorney or child-placing agency

within thirty (30) days from the date that the Notice of Plan for

Adoption is served, the failure to file the form shall constitute:

1. A waiver of the right to receive further notice of any

adoption proceedings or proceedings to terminate parental rights, if

any, that may be filed regarding the minor; and

2. A denial of interest in the minor, which denial shall result

in the court's termination of the notified party's parental rights

to this minor and approval of an adoption without his consent if an

adoption proceeding is filed regarding this minor and the adoption

is approved by the court.

D. If the form is received by the Paternity Registry of the

Department of Human Services, or the attorney or child-placing
est in the minor, which denial shall result

in the court's termination of the notified party's parental rights

to this minor and approval of an adoption without his consent if an

adoption proceeding is filed regarding this minor and the adoption

is approved by the court.

D. If the form is received by the Paternity Registry of the

Department of Human Services, or the attorney or child-placing

agency within thirty (30) days of the date of service of the Notice

of Plan for Adoption, and it indicates that any of the options

specified in subparagraphs a, b and c of paragraph 2 of subsection B

of this section have been chosen, the putative father shall have a

right to receive notice of any adoption proceedings or any

termination of parental rights proceedings that may be filed

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10. Children Page 322

regarding the minor, at the address of the putative father given on

the form, or at an address later provided to the Paternity Registry

of the Department of Human Services. The return of the form to the

Paternity Registry of the Department of Human Services, or the

attorney or child-placing agency sending the form within thirty (30)

days is the only action by which the notified person will retain the

right, if any, to notice of adoption or termination of parental

rights proceedings regarding the minor.

E. The filing of the enclosed form shall not, by itself,

constitute the bearing of parental responsibilities, and shall not,

by itself, establish parental rights.

F. The filing of the enclosed form or the failure to file the

enclosed form shall not affect the duty to support the mother or

minor during the pregnancy or after the delivery of the minor.

G. If a petition to adopt the minor has not been filed within

twelve (12) months of placement of the minor for adoption, failure

to mail the enclosed notice form shall not affect the notified

person's parental rights and responsibilities.

H. The failure to give such notice shall not be grounds

available to the father to establish that he was denied knowledge of

the pregnancy.

I. Receipt by a putative father of a Notice of Plan for

Adoption or return of the form does not obligate the mother of the

minor to proceed with an adoptive placement of the minor.