Source: http://www.childadoptionlaws.com/child_adoption_laws/adoption_laws_vermont_state.htm
Timestamp: 2019-02-20 03:39:53
Document Index: 243110772

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 5', 'art 8', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 1', '§ 131', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 8', '§ 127']

Child Adoption Laws Vermont
We hope to help you learn more about the child adoption laws in the State of Vermont. Please note that while we have tried to be as current as possible, laws are occasionally rewritten and/or amended; accordingly, the Vermont adoption law provided below may have errors, omissions, or may not be the most current version. Please remember that this information should not be used as the basis for making any legal decision. Please use appropriate resources and an attorney's advice when making legal decisions.
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Adopting Families in states other than Vermont
Part 2 of 2 (Part 1) (Part 2)
Article 5: ADOPTION OF ADULTS AND EMANCIPATED MINORS
The legal consequences of an adoption of an adult or emancipated minor are the same as under sections 1-103 through 1-106 of this title, but the legal consequences of adoption of an adult stepchild by an adult stepparent are the same as under section 4-102 of this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 5-103. Consent by spouse
(a) Consent to the adoption of an adult or emancipated minor is required only of the spouse of the prospective adoptive parent, unless they are legally separated, or the court finds that the spouse is not capable of giving consent or is withholding consent contrary to the best interest of the adoptee and the prospective adoptive parent.
(b) The consent of the spouse of the prospective adoptive parent:
(1) shall be in writing and be signed or confirmed in the presence of the court or a person authorized to take acknowledgments;
(2) shall state that the spouse:
(A) consents to the proposed adoption; and
(B) understands the consequences the adoption may have for any right of inheritance, property, or support the spouse has; and
(3) may contain a waiver of any proceedings for adoption. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
(6) that the adoptee understands that a consequence of the adoption will be to terminate the adoptee's relationship as the child of an existing parent, but if the adoptive parent is the adoptee's stepparent, the adoption will not affect the adoptee's relationship with a parent who is the stepparent's spouse, but will terminate the adoptee's relationship to the adoptee's other parent, except for the right to inherit from or through that parent;
§ 5-106. Notice and time of hearing
(a) Within 30 days after a petition for adoption is filed, the court shall serve notice of hearing the petition upon any person whose consent to the adoption is required under section 5-103 of this title, and who has not waived notice, by sending a copy of the petition and notice of hearing to the person at the address stated in the petition, or according to the manner of service provided in section 3-403 of this title.
(b) The court shall set a date and time for hearing the petition, which shall be at least 30 days after the notice is served. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 5-107. Dispositional hearing
(a) Both petitioners shall appear in person at the hearing unless an appearance is excused for good cause shown. In the latter event an appearance may be made for either or both of them by an attorney authorized in writing to make the appearance, or a hearing may be conducted by telephone or other electronic medium.
(b) The court shall examine the petitioners, or the attorney for a petitioner not present in person, and shall grant the petition for adoption if it determines that:
(1) at least 30 days have elapsed since the service of notice of hearing the petition for adoption;
(2) notice has been served, or dispensed with, as to any person whose consent is required under section 5-103 of this title;
(3) every necessary consent, waiver, document, or judicial order has been obtained and filed with the court;
(4) the adoption is for the purpose of creating the relationship of parent and child between the petitioners and the petitioners understand the consequences of the relationship; and
(5) there has been substantial compliance with this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 5-108. Decree of adoption
(a) A decree of adoption issued under this article shall substantially conform to the relevant requirements of section 3-705 of this title and appeals from a decree, or challenges to it, are governed by section 3-707 of this title.
(b) The court shall send a copy of the decree to each person named in the petition at the address stated in the petition.
(c) Within 30 days after a decree of adoption becomes final, the clerk of the court shall prepare a report of the adoption for the supervisor of vital records, and, if the petitioners have requested it, the report shall instruct the supervisor to issue a new birth certificate to the adoptee, as provided in Article 3, Part 8 of this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 5-109. Adoption of an incompetent adult
If the adult who is being adopted has been found by a court to be incompetent:
(1) the legal guardian shall join in the petition for adoption;
(2) the court may, upon recommendation of the legal guardian:
(A) waive the requirement that the adoptee join in the petition;
(B) waive the requirements of subdivisions 5-105(b)(6) and (7) of this title with respect to the adoptee; and
(C) order an evaluation as provided in subdivisions 4-110(a)-(f) of this title; and
(3) the court shall:
(A) determine whether the adoptee has expressed an opinion about the granting of the petition;
(B) ensure that the adoptee has not been coerced or subjected to duress, exploitation or undue influence; and
(C) not grant the petition unless the adoption is in the best interest of the adoptee. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
Article 6: RECORDS OF ADOPTION PROCEEDING; RETENTION, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND ACCESS
§ 6-102. Records confidential, court records sealed
(d) All records on file with the court or agency shall be retained permanently and sealed for 99 years after the date of the adoptee's birth. Sealed records and indices are not open to inspection by any person except as provided in this title.
(e) The records of an agency which ceases operation in this state shall be transferred to the department for retention under the provisions of this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 131.)
Article 7: PROHIBITED AND PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH ADOPTION
§ 7-101. Enforcement
(a) The attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this title and may review and investigate compliance therewith.
(b) Whenever the attorney general has reason to believe that a person has violated or is violating a provision of this title, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, the attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state against such person to ensure compliance. The action may be brought in the superior court of the county in which such person resides or in which the violation occurred or is occurring. The court may grant temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief to restrain and prevent violations of this title.
(c) In addition to the foregoing, the attorney general may request and the court is authorized to render any other appropriate relief as may be in the public interest, and may:
(1) impose a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.00 for each violation. In the case of a continuing violation, a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 may be imposed for each day the violation continues; and
(2) order reimbursement to the state of Vermont for the reasonable value of its services and its expenses in investigating and prosecuting the action. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 7-102. Unauthorized disclosure of information
(a) A person who knowingly discloses confidential adoption information or identifying information in violation of this title, shall be fined not more than $1,000.00.
(b) In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (a) of this section, a person who is the subject of information contained in a record made confidential by this title may file an action for damages or equitable relief against any person who obtains unauthorized information or who discloses unauthorized information, or is likely to do so. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 7-103. Lawful payments related to adoption
(c) Except for the expenses authorized by subdivisions (a)(4) and (a)(7) of this section, no payments as authorized in subsection (a) shall be paid directly to a parent without prior court approval, but instead will be paid to service providers or to an agency. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 7-104. Charges by agency
Subject to the requirements of sections 3-702 and 3-703 of this title for an accounting and judicial approval of fees and charges related to an adoption, an agency may charge or accept a fee or other reasonable compensation from a prospective adoptive parent for expenses not paid by public assistance for:
(1) medical, hospital, nursing, pharmaceutical, or other similar expenses incurred by a mother or her minor child in connection with prenatal care, the birth or any illness of the minor;
(2) a percentage of the annual cost the agency incurs in locating and providing counseling services for minor adoptees, parents, and prospective parents;
(3) living expenses of a mother for a reasonable time before the birth of a child and for no more than six weeks after the birth;
(4) expenses incurred in ascertaining the information required by section 2-105 of this title;
(5) legal services, and court costs, or other administrative expenses connected with an adoption, including the legal services performed for a parent who relinquishes a minor child to the agency;
(6) preparation of a preplacement evaluation and an evaluation during the proceeding for adoption;
(7) transportation for services provided under this section; and
(8) any other service or expense the court finds is reasonable and necessary. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 7-105. Prohibited payments related to adoption
(a) Except as otherwise provided in sections 7-103 and 7-104 of this title, a person may not pay or give or offer to pay or give to any other person, or request, receive, or accept any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, for:
(3) the relinquishment of a minor to an agency for the purpose of adoption; or
(4) the recruitment of nonresident pregnant women to locate in this state for the purpose of relinquishing the child for adoption.
(b) A release from liability from past or future child support is not a violation of this section. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
Article 8: INTERSTATE COMPACTS ON ADOPTION AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
§ 8-101. Interstate compacts on adoption and medical assistance; authorization
(a) The commissioner of the department for children and families is authorized to negotiate and enter into interstate compacts with agencies of other states for the provision of medical assistance and other services for children with special needs on behalf of whom adoption assistance is being provided by the state of Vermont or another state party to such a compact and who move into or from Vermont.
(b) As used in this article, "state" includes a state, territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States. Compacts authorized by this article must include:
(2) a provision or provisions for withdrawal from the compact upon written notice to the parties, but with a period of one year between the date of the notice and the effective date of the withdrawal;
(4) a requirement that each instance of adoption assistance to which the compact applies be covered by an adoption assistance agreement in writing between the adoptive parents and the state child welfare agency of the state which undertakes to provide the adoption assistance, and further, that any such agreement be expressly for the benefit of the adopted child and enforceable by the adoptive parents, and the state agency providing the adoption assistance; and
(c) The commissioner shall designate a compact administrator and deputies, as deemed necessary, who shall have authority to develop rules to be adopted to effectuate the terms and provisions of compacts entered into under the authority of this article. (Added 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 127.)