How does my Native American heritage affect my adoption plan?

Because each federally registered Native American tribe has legal rights over its children, you must inform FCCA of any possible Native American heritage in your family or the biological father’s family. In those cases, FCCA will notify all possible tribes in which your child might be eligible for enrollment.  Each tribe will respond to FCCA as to whether the child is eligible for enrollment. If the child is not eligible, the adoption can go forward as planned. If the child is eligible, the adoption cannot proceed unless the tribe consents. And even if the tribe agrees to the adoption, the relinquishment process and the timelines for changing your mind about the adoption are very different. You should discuss this with us specifically to ensure that you have accurate information about your situation.