18-C §9-301. Petition for adoption and change of name; filing fee
§9-301. Petition for adoption and change of name; filing fee Spouses or unmarried persons jointly or an unmarried person, whether resident or nonresident of the State, may petition the court to adopt a person, regardless of age, and to change that person’s name. The fee for filing the petition is $65 plus: [PL 2017, […]
18-C §9-302. Consent for adoption
§9-302. Consent for adoption 1. Written consent. Before an adoption is granted, written consent to the adoption must be given by: A. The adoptee, if the adoptee is 12 years of age or older; [PL 2019, c. 664, Pt. A, §1 (AMD).] B. Each of the adoptee’s living parents, except as provided in […]
18-C §9-101. Short title
§9-101. Short title This Article may be known and cited as “the Adoption Act.” [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, […]
18-C §9-303. Petition
§9-303. Petition 1. Sworn; contents. A petition for adoption must be sworn to by the petitioner and must include: A. The full name, age and place of residence of the petitioner and, if married, the place and date of marriage; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. […]
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 […]