i have a friend whos sister who is 14 just found out she is pregnant. Her dad wants her to give it up for adoption. Can he make her do that if she doesn't want to?

Legally, a minor cannot be FORCED to give up her baby by her parents.

quote:

Can my parents force me to place my baby for adoption?

No. The birth parent must surrender his or
her parental rights, although the child can be
removed by the state in cases of abuse or
neglect. A court can terminate the father’s
rights if he cannot be located.

"Legally, a minor cannot be FORCED to give up her baby by her parents."

While I am sure that this is the caee in many states, it may not be the case in all states. It does seem not to be a federal issue, so each state makes it own laws. Certainly, a state may feel bound by precedent set by another state or may use another state's ruling as a guide, but it may not, and, unless a Constitutional issue is invoved, it remains a state matter.

AS DG says, the laws vary from state to state. But on a more pragmatic level, why does a 14 year-old who gets pregnant believe she has the slightest idea about how to raise a baby, unless she's expecting her family to do it for her?

There are more important things for your friend to consider than whether or not the laws can allow or prevent her father from forcing her to give the baby up for adoption. Is she and the baby's father able and willing to raise the baby and provide a home for it? Do either of them feel trapped by circumstances they hadn't intended, or did they realistically plan to have a baby. Is the 'friend' mature enough to realize how unprepared and ill-equipped to raise a child without a job, an education, experience, she is? I believe the ability to give a child up, to people who want it enough to adopt, and are qualified to do so, would demonstrate considerably more maturity than claiming a selfish legal "right" no one deserves. IMHO.