# Alaska Adoption R. 9: Rule 9. Consents—Relinquishments

> Alaska · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R9

## Section

- **Citation:** Alaska Adoption R. 9
- **Heading:** Rule 9. Consents—Relinquishments
- **Jurisdiction:** Alaska
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Alaska Rules of Court / Alaska Adoption Rules / Alaska Adoption R. 9

## Text

(a) Form. A consent or relinquishment must be in writing
and must include:
(1) notice of the person’s right to withdraw the consent or
relinquishment as provided by paragraphs (g), (h) and (i) of
this rule;
(2) the address and telephone number of the court in
which the adoption or relinquishment proceeding has or is
expected to be filed;
(3) a statement of the right to counsel as stated in Rule 8;
(4) a statement concerning whether or not any visitation
rights or other parental privileges are sought to be retained
after the adoption;
(5) if a consent, the information required in AS
25.23.060; and
(6) if signed by a parent, a statement of whether the
parent is a minor.
(b) Consent or Relinquishment Involving an Indian
Child. A consent or relinquishment involving an Indian child
must be signed in a hearing in the presence of a judge unless
the consent is by an agency. In addition to the explanations
required by paragraph (d), the court shall inquire as to what
efforts have been made to comply with the placement
preferences of 25 U.S.C. Section 1915(a). Consent for
adoption or relinquishment of parental rights of an Indian child
may not be given prior to or within ten days following the birth
of the child.
(c) Consent By a Minor.
(1) A consent by a minor child over the age of 10 to the
child’s adoption must be signed in writing and must be in the
presence of the court unless the court in the best interest of the
minor dispenses with the minor’s consent or the requirement
that the child consent in court.
(2) A consent by a parent who is a minor to an adoption
of the parent’s child must be signed in the presence of the
court.
sent by a minor child over the age of 10 to the
child’s adoption must be signed in writing and must be in the
presence of the court unless the court in the best interest of the
minor dispenses with the minor’s consent or the requirement
that the child consent in court.
(2) A consent by a parent who is a minor to an adoption
of the parent’s child must be signed in the presence of the
court.
(d) Consent or Relinquishment Before the Court. If a
consent or relinquishment is to be signed in the presence of the
court, the judge shall first determine that the terms and
consequences of the document were explained in detail to the
person in a language that the person understands. The court
also must determine that the person understands these terms
and consequences, and that the person voluntarily signs the
consent or relinquishment. If the identity or whereabouts of the
other parent is in question, the court shall inquire into these
matters.
(e) Consents or Relinquishments Not Before the
Court. A consent or relinquishment to an adoption not taken in
the presence of a judge must comply with AS 25.23.060. A
relinquishment not taken in the presence of a judge must
comply with AS 25.23.180(b).
(f) Consent
or
Relinquishment
Before
Special
Master. A consent or relinquishment required to be taken in
the presence of a judge must be taken in the physical presence
of a judge. However, in exceptional circumstances the assigned
judge may appoint a peace officer or person authorized to
administer oaths or affirmations to act as a special master
under Adoption Rule 3 for the limited purpose of sitting as the
judge in whose physical presence the person gives the consent
or relinquishment. The assigned judge must be telephonically
present when the consent or relinquishment is taken
xceptional circumstances the assigned
judge may appoint a peace officer or person authorized to
administer oaths or affirmations to act as a special master
under Adoption Rule 3 for the limited purpose of sitting as the
judge in whose physical presence the person gives the consent
or relinquishment. The assigned judge must be telephonically
present when the consent or relinquishment is taken. Both the
special master and the assigned judge must make oral or
written findings concerning the identity of the person signing
the consent or relinquishment, whether the person understood
the consent or relinquishment, and whether the person signed
voluntarily. The requirements of paragraph (c) also must be
met.
(g) Parent’s
Withdrawal
of
Consent
or
Relinquishment of a Non-Indian Child. The parent of a non-
Indian child may withdraw a consent or relinquishment by
written notice to the court, or the person or agency obtaining
the consent or relinquishment, within 10 days of the birth or
signing of the consent or relinquishment, whichever is later.
Notice is timely if received or postmarked on or before the last
day of this time period. After the 10 day period, the parent may
request that the court permit withdrawal of the consent or
relinquishment pursuant to AS 25.23.070 for a consent or AS
25.23.180(g) or AS 47.10.089(h) for a relinquishment.
(h) Parent’s
Withdrawal
of
Consent
or
Relinquishment of an Indian Child. The parent of an Indian
child may withdraw a consent or relinquishment by written
notice to the court, or the person or agency obtaining the
consent or relinquishment, at any time before the signing of the
decree of adoption for a consent or the order of termination for
a relinquishment. Notice is timely if received or postmarked on
or before the last day of this time period. A decree of adoption
or order of termination may not be signed until 10 days have
passed since the signing of the consent or relinquishment.
obtaining the
consent or relinquishment, at any time before the signing of the
decree of adoption for a consent or the order of termination for
a relinquishment. Notice is timely if received or postmarked on
or before the last day of this time period. A decree of adoption
or order of termination may not be signed until 10 days have
passed since the signing of the consent or relinquishment.
(i) Child’s Withdrawal of Consent. A child 10 years of
age or older may withdraw a consent by written notice to the
court, or the person or agency obtaining the consent, within 10
days of signing the consent. Notice is timely if received or
postmarked on or before the last day of this time period. After
the 10 day period, the child may request that the court permit
withdrawal of the consent pursuant to AS 25.23.070.
NOTE: Chapter 64, sections 56 and 57, SLA 2005 (HB 53)
amended Adoption Rule 9 as reflected in section 9 of this
Order. The change to Adoption Rule 9 is adopted for the sole
reason that the legislature has mandated the amendment. In
addition, according to section 60(b) of the Act, AS
25.23.180(j) - (n) and AS 47.10.089, enacted in sections 4 and
17, amend Adoption Rule 9 by requiring retained privileges to
be set out in the relinquishment form and order and by
providing additional procedures related to the relinquishment.

## Nearby sections

- [Alaska Adoption R. 1 Rule 1. Title—Scope—Construction—Situations Not Covered by the Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R1.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 2 Rule 2. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R2.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 3 Rule 3. Appointment and Authority of Masters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R3.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 4 Rule 4. Authority of District Court Judges and Magistrate Judges](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R4.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 5 Rule 5. Venue](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R5.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 6 Rule 6. Petitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R6.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 7 Rule 7. Guardians Ad Litem](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R7.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 8 Rule 8. Right to Counsel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R8.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 9 Rule 9. Consents—Relinquishments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R9.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 10 Rule 10. Notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R10.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 11 Rule 11. Hearings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R11.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 12 Rule 12. Tribal Intervention and Removal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R12.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 13 Rule 13. Decree of Termination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R13.md)
- [Alaska Adoption R. 14 Rule 14. Decree of Adoption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R14.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AK_ADOPT_R9. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.