170-B:1 Purpose. – The general court hereby declares its conviction that the policies and procedures for adoption contained in this chapter are necessary and desirable, having as their purpose the threefold protection of: I. The adoptive child, from unnecessary separation from the child’s birth parents and from adoption by parents who should not have […]
170-B:10 Content of Surrender. – I. A surrender shall state that the individual executing the surrender document acknowledges that the individual’s parental rights over the child will cease upon the court’s approval of the surrender. II. A surrender shall further state: (a) An acknowledgement that after the surrender is executed in substantial compliance with […]
170-B:11 Consequences of Surrender. – I. All parental rights, with the exception of inheritance rights and privileges as provided in RSA 170-B:25, II, shall cease and the right to notice of any future hearings shall be waived by a surrender executed in accordance with RSA 170-B:9 and approved by the court. II. Except in […]
170-B:12 Withdrawal of Surrender. – I. A parent wishing to withdraw a surrender shall notify the court in writing where the surrender was taken. Notification shall be prior to the entry of the final decree. II. Upon receiving written notice of a parent’s request to withdraw his or her surrender the court shall: (a) […]
170-B:13 Payment of Birth Parent Expenses; Penalty. – I. In any adoption of an unrelated minor child under this chapter, an intended adoptive parent or anyone acting in concert with, at the direction of, or on behalf of an intended adoptive parent shall pay only the following expenses of the birth parent: (a) Reasonable […]
170-B:14 Arrangements Between Adoptive and Birth Parents. – I. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as encouraging, discouraging, or prohibiting arrangements or understandings reached between the prospective adoptive parents, the birth parents, or the licensed child-placing agency with respect to the post-surrender exchange of identifying or non-identifying information, communication, or contact. Except in […]
170-B:15 Jurisdiction, Venue, and Inconvenient Forum. – I. The probate court has exclusive jurisdiction to grant a petition for adoption if the adoptee is present in the state or is in the legal custody or legal guardianship of an authorized agency located in the state at the time of filing of the petition. All […]
170-B:16 Petition for Adoption. – I. A proceeding to adopt a minor child, other than a related minor child, shall be commenced by the filing of a petition within 30 days after such minor child has been placed in an adoptive home, provided that such petition may be filed at a later date by […]
170-B:17 Notice of Petition. – I. After the filing of a petition to adopt a minor, the court shall fix a time and place for hearing the petition. Notice shall be given by the court to the petitioners, all guardians of the child, the person having legal custody of the child, and the guardian […]
170-B:18 Assessment. – I. Before the petition is heard, in the adoption of a related minor child, or an adoption of a minor child through an agency, an assessment shall be made by the department, or by a licensed child-placing agency into the conditions of the petitioner for the purpose of ascertaining whether the […]
170-B:19 Hearing. – I. The petitioner and the adoptee shall appear at the hearing on the petition, unless the presence of either is excused by the court for good cause shown. II. The court may continue the hearing from time to time to permit further observation, assessment, or consideration of any facts or circumstances […]
170-B:2 Definitions. – As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: I. " Adult " means an individual who is not a minor. II. " Agency " means any person licensed by existing law to place minors for adoption. III. " Birth father " means a person or persons other than a […]
170-B:20 Dismissal of Adoption Proceedings. – I. If at any time between the filing of a petition and the issuance of the final order completing the adoption it is known to the court that circumstances are such that the adoptee should not be adopted, the court may dismiss the proceedings. II. Before entering an […]
170-B:21 Appeals and Validation of Adoption Decrees. – I. An appeal from any final or interlocutory decree rendered by the court may be taken in the manner and time provided in RSA 567-A, except that no appeal shall be allowed from any order or decree involving proceedings for adoption unless taken within 30 days […]
170-B:22 Report of Adoption. – I. Within 7 days after the final decree is filed, the clerk shall send a hard copy of the report of the adoption to the town clerk of the town where the adoptee was born, to the commissioner, and to the department of state, division of vital records administration. […]
170-B:23 Confidentiality of Records. – Notwithstanding any other law concerning public hearings and records: I. All hearings held in adoptive proceedings shall be in closed court without admittance of any person other than essential officers of the court, the parties, their witnesses, counsel, and representatives of the agencies present to perform their official duties. […]
170-B:24 Requests for Identifying and Non-Identifying Information. – I. Requests for non-identifying social or medical information shall be handled in the following manner: (a) Requests for non-identifying social or medical information may be made by an adoptee over the age of 18; a parent of an adoptee under the age of 18; or a […]
170-B:25 Effect of Petition and Decree of Adoption; Inheritance. – I. Upon the issuance of the final decree of adoption, the adoptee shall be considered the child of the adopting parent or parents, entitled to the same rights and privileges and subject to the same duties and obligations as if such adoptee had been […]
170-B:26 Change of Name. – If in a petition for the adoption of a child a change of name is requested, the court, upon decreeing the adoption, may also decree such change of name. Source. 2004, 255:1, eff. Jan. 2, 2005.
170-B:27 Readoption. – I. Any adoptee may be readopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. All provisions relating to the birth parent or parents shall apply to the adoptive parent or parents except that in no case of readoption shall a birth parent be made a party to the proceedings, nor shall […]
