18-C §9-102. Definitions
§9-102. Definitions As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] 1. Adoptee. “Adoptee” means a person who will be or who has been adopted, regardless of whether the person […]
18-C §9-304. Investigation; guardian ad litem; registry
§9-304. Investigation; guardian ad litem; registry 1. Background check; study and report. Upon the filing of a petition for adoption of a minor child, the court shall request a background check and shall direct the department or a licensed child-placing agency to conduct a study and make a report to the court. A. The […]
18-C §9-103. Jurisdiction
§9-103. Jurisdiction 1. Probate Court jurisdiction. Subject to Title 4, section 152, subsection 5-A, the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following: A. Petitions for adoption; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] B. Consents and reviews of withholdings of consent by persons […]
18-C §9-305. Evidence; procedure
§9-305. Evidence; procedure The court may proceed as follows in considering a petition for adoption. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] 1. Adoptee interview. The court may interview any adoptee, and shall interview an adoptee who is 12 years of age or older, outside […]
18-C §9-104. Venue; transfer
§9-104. Venue; transfer 1. Venue if adoptee placed by agency or department. If an adoptee is placed by a licensed child-placing agency or the department, the petition for adoption must be filed in the court in the county or division where: A. The petitioner resides; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); […]
18-C §9-306. Allowable payments; expenses
§9-306. Allowable payments; expenses 1. Allowable payments by or on behalf of petitioner. Except when one of the petitioners is a blood relative of the adoptee or the adoptee is an adult, only the following expenses may be paid by or on behalf of a petitioner in any proceeding under this Article: A. The […]
18-C §9-105. Rights of adopted persons
§9-105. Rights of adopted persons Except as otherwise provided by law, an adopted person has all the same rights, including inheritance rights, that a child born to the adoptive parents would have. An adoptee also retains the right to inherit from the adoptee’s former parents if the adoption decree so provides, as specified in section […]
18-C §9-106. Legal representation
§9-106. Legal representation 1. Attorney for parents. The parents are entitled to an attorney for any hearing held pursuant to this Article. If a parent or putative parent wants an attorney but is unable to afford one, the parent or the putative parent may request the court to appoint an attorney. If the court finds […]
18-C §9-107. Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
§9-107. Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 The federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, Title 25, Section 1901 et seq. governs all proceedings under this Article that pertain to an Indian child as defined in that Act. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. […]
18-C §9-108. Application of prior laws
§9-108. Application of prior laws The laws in effect on August 31, 2019 apply to proceedings for which any of the following occurred before September 1, 2019: [PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §13 (AMD).] 1. Consent. The filing of a consent; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. […]