Strengthen adoption laws to prioritise stability for children: Forum

I write to highlight a critical issue in Singapore’s adoption framework – the prolonged legal uncertainty faced by adoptive families due to the absence of clear, enforceable timelines for revoking parental consent.

Our experience reflects this legal provision: After nearly 12 months of us caring for our adopted child, the birth parents exercised their right to revoke consent, leading to prolonged ongoing legal proceedings and significant uncertainty.

This gap in the system places prolonged undue emotional stress on adoptive parents, and, more importantly, exposes children to unnecessary emotional upheaval. 

Currently, birth parents can revoke consent at any time until the adoption order is finalised – a process that can stretch beyond a year after the child’s birth. This protracted timeline fails to prioritise the well-being of the child, leaving adoptive families in an untenable situation.

The consequences of revoking consent after a child has bonded with an adoptive family can be devastating. Young children form deep attachments in their early years and abrupt disruptions can result in long-term psychological harm, attachment disorders, identity confusion, and severe emotional distress.

The existing system does not adequately account for this impact, and seems to prioritise bureaucratic processes over the fundamental need for stability in a child’s formative years. 

Another significant gap is the lack of mandatory pre-adoption counselling for birth parents, particularly minors. Many make these life-altering decisions under emotional or financial distress, without fully understanding the permanence of adoption. The absence of structured guidance increases the likelihood of regret and reversal attempts.

In contrast, adoptive parents undergo rigorous evaluations and assessments to be declared eligible for adoption, ensuring they are prepared to provide a nurturing and stable environment. Yet, their commitment is not safeguarded by legal certainty.

Singapore must act urgently to reform its adoption laws to prioritise child welfare and family stability. Key reforms should include: 

• a strict, enforceable deadline for revoking consent, preventing prolonged uncertainty.
• mandatory pre-adoption counselling for birth parents to ensure fully informed decision-making.
• expedited adoption proceedings to minimise disruptions and provide legal security to adoptive families. 

A well-functioning adoption system should provide stability, not uncertainty. The current framework leaves families and children vulnerable to avoidable heartbreak and psychological harm. It is time to put the child’s best interests first and implement legal protections to ensure adoption is a process that fosters security, not anxiety. 

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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