Written consent required for an adoption must be reviewed and approved by the court within 72 hours. Assessments of prospective adoptive parents no longer need to be submitted at least ten days prior to the scheduled hearing of the adoptive petition. During hearings to determine whether an adoption shall be finalized, the courts are no longer required to ascertain whether allegations within adoption petitions are true. Birth parents may place a child for adoption with a licensed child placement agency or any suitable party for up to one year. Children cannot be placed with prospective adoptive parents without a court order.
Current law requires court orders for all child placements.
Exemptions are given as to when petitions to terminate parental rights must be filed with the court. Children are not to be considered neglected if they are in the care of a relative. Furthermore, if such a petition is deemed to be not in the best interests of the child, such a petition is not required. This act also revises various child custody, visitation and support laws. Relevant factors for the court to consider in determining child support orders include the amount of time a child spends with each parent and the reasonable expenses associated with custody arrangements.