reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
23 PA Cons Stat § 2738 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption|Section 2738 - Enforcement of agreement

§ 2738. Enforcement of agreement. (a) General rule.--Any party to an agreement, a sibling or a child who is the subject of an agreement may seek to enforce an agreement by filing an action in the court that finalized the adoption.  (b) Remedies.--Any party to an agreement, a sibling or a child who is the subject of an agreement may request only specific performance in seeking to enforce an agreement and may not request monetary damages or modification of an agreement.  (c) Requirements.--For an agreement to be enforceable, it must be:  (1) In writing. (2) Approved by the court on or before the date for any adoption decree. (3) If the child is 12 years of age or older when the agreement is executed, the child must consent to the agreement at the time of its execution.  (d) Prerequisites.--Before the court may enter an order enforcing an agreement, it must find all of the following:  (1) The party seeking enforcement of the agreement is in substantial compliance with the agreement.  (2) By clear and convincing evidence, enforcement serves the needs, welfare and best interest of the child.  (e) Cessation of enforceability.-- (1) An agreement shall cease to be enforceable on the date the child turns 18 years of age unless the agreement otherwise stipulates or is modified by the court.  (2) The court issuing final approval of an agreement shall have continuing jurisdiction over enforcement of the agreement until the child turns 18 years of age, unless the agreement otherwise stipulates or is modified by the court.  (f) Exclusivity of remedy.--This section constitutes the exclusive remedy for enforcement of an agreement, and no statutory or common law remedy shall be available for enforcement or damages in connection with an agreement.    Cross References. Section 2738 is referred to in sections 2741, 2742 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2739 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption|Section 2739 - Discontinuance of agreement

§ 2739. Discontinuance of agreement. (a) General rule.--A party to an agreement or a child that is at least 12 years of age or older may seek to discontinue an agreement by filing an action in the court that finalized the adoption.  (b) Standard for discontinuation.--Before the court may enter an order discontinuing an agreement, it must find by clear and convincing evidence that discontinuance serves the needs, welfare and best interest of the child.    Cross References. Section 2739 is referred to in sections 2741, 2742 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2740 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption|Section 2740 - Procedures for facilitating and resolving agreements involving a county child welfare agency

§ 2740. Procedures for facilitating and resolving agreements involving a county child welfare agency. (a) Department to develop procedures.--In termination of parental rights and adoption proceedings involving a county child welfare agency arising from a juvenile dependency case under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters), the department shall develop, in consultation with the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts and the Juvenile Courts Judges Commission, procedures to do the following:  (1) Facilitate the development of an agreement, when appropriate, before it is presented to the court.  (2) Resolve any requests to modify, enforce or discontinue an agreement consistent with the provisions of this subchapter.  (b) Requirements.--The procedures shall, among other provisions to be determined by the department, clearly inform the parties to and subject of an agreement how to seek modification, enforcement or discontinuance of an agreement that was approved by the court.  (c) Availability to county agencies.--The department shall make the procedures available to county agencies no later than 180 days after the effective date of this subchapter.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2741 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption|Section 2741 - Counsel

§ 2741. Counsel. (a) General rule.--In proceedings under sections 2737 (relating to modification of agreement), 2738 (relating to enforcement of agreement) and 2739 (relating to discontinuance of agreement), parties shall not be entitled to court-appointed counsel.  (b) Guardians ad litem.-- (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of a child in proceedings under sections 2737, 2738 and 2739 and a sibling under 18 years of age who seeks to enforce or to discontinue an agreement.  (2) When appointing a guardian ad litem under this subchapter, the court may appoint the same attorney who represents or has represented the child in any dependency proceedings or termination of parental rights proceedings.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2742 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption|Section 2742 - Costs

§ 2742. Costs. If the court finds that an action brought under section 2737 (relating to modification of agreement), 2738 (relating to enforcement of agreement) or 2739 (relating to discontinuance of agreement) was wholly insubstantial, frivolous or not advanced in good faith, the court may award attorney fees and costs to the prevailing parties.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2901 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2901 - Time of entry of decree of adoption

 § 2901. Time of entry of decree of adoption. Unless the court for cause shown determines otherwise, no decree of adoption shall be entered unless the natural parent or parents' rights have been terminated, the investigation required by section 2535 (relating to investigation) has been completed, the report of the intermediary has been filed pursuant to section 2533 (relating to report of intermediary) and all other legal requirements have been met. If all legal requirements have been met, the court may enter a decree of adoption at any time.   (June 23, 1982, P.L.617, No.174, eff. 60 days)
23 PA Cons Stat § 2902 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2902 - Requirements and form of decree of adoption

§ 2902. Requirements and form of decree of adoption. (a) General rule.--If satisfied that the statements made in the petition are true, that the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be adopted will be promoted by the adoption and that all requirements of this part have been met, the court shall enter a decree so finding and directing that the person proposed to be adopted shall have all the rights of a child and heir of the adopting parent or parents and shall be subject to the duties of a child to him or them.  (b) Withdrawal or dismissal of petition.--In any case in which the petition is withdrawn or dismissed, the court shall enter an appropriate order in regard to the custody of the child.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2903 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2903 - Retention of parental status

§ 2903. Retention of parental status. Whenever a parent consents to the adoption of his child by his spouse, the parent-child relationship between him and his child shall remain whether or not he is one of the petitioners in the adoption proceeding.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2904 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2904 - Name of adoptee

§ 2904. Name of adoptee. If requested by the petitioners, the decree may provide that the adoptee shall assume the name of the adopting parent or parents and any given first or middle names that may be chosen.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2906 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2906 - Docket entries

§ 2906. Docket entries. Upon the filing of any decree under this part, the clerk shall enter on the docket an entry showing the date of the decree. Information identifying the natural parents shall not be entered on the docket.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2907 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2907 - Certificate of adoption

§ 2907. Certificate of adoption. The clerk shall issue to the adopting parent or parents a certificate reciting that the court has granted the adoption. The certificate shall not disclose the name of any natural parent or the original name of the person adopted. The certificate shall be accepted in any legal proceedings in this Commonwealth as evidence of the fact that the adoption has been granted.    Cross References. Section 2907 is referred to in section 2908 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2910 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2910 - Penalty for unauthorized disclosure

§ 2910. Penalty for unauthorized disclosure. Any officer or employee of the court, other than a judge thereof, the Department of Health, the Department of Public Welfare or any agency who willfully discloses impounded or otherwise confidential information relating to an adoption, other than as expressly authorized and provided in this chapter, commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.  (Dec. 12, 1984, P.L.979, No.195, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.685, No.76, eff. 60 days)    References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2912 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2912 - Combined request for information

§ 2912. Combined request for information. An individual authorized to receive both nonidentifying information and identifying information may file a single written request under Subchapter D (relating to release of information).
23 PA Cons Stat § 2913 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2913 - Reasonable fees

§ 2913. Reasonable fees. Any court or agency may charge reasonable fees for services provided under this chapter.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2914 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2914 - Immunity from liability

§ 2914. Immunity from liability. (a) General rule.--A person or agency, including the Commonwealth and any of its governmental subdivisions, that participates in good faith in providing services under this chapter has immunity from civil liability that may otherwise result by reason of an action or a failure to act under this chapter.  (b) Presumption of good faith.--For the purpose of a civil proceeding, the good faith of any person or agency that provides services pursuant to this chapter is presumed.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2915 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2915 - Court and agency records

§ 2915. Court and agency records. (a) General rule.--All court and agency records shall be maintained as a permanent record and withheld from inspection except as provided under this chapter.  (b) Who may access court or agency records.--Only the following are authorized to access court or agency records for the purpose of releasing nonidentifying or identifying information under this chapter:  (1) The court which finalized the adoption. (2) The agency that coordinated the adoption. (3) A successor agency authorized by the court which finalized the adoption. (c) Disposition of agency records upon closure.-- (1) As soon as practicable, but not less than 30 days prior to the date on which an agency ceases to operate as a legal entity in this Commonwealth, the agency shall, unless it has applied to operate as a new legal entity, notify the department of its intention to cease operating.  (2) Within this time period, the agency shall submit a plan to the department relating to the closure and transfer of case records to another agency. The plan shall be subject to approval by the department.  (3) In preparation for its closure and transfer of case records, the agency shall label its case records to identify the respective court that finalized an adoption or where a petition to terminate parental rights or to adopt has been filed.  (4) The department shall notify each court so identified by the agency of the name, address and telephone number of the agency to which case records have been transferred.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2916 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2916 - Attorney records

§ 2916. Attorney records. An attorney representing a party to an adoption proceeding or acting as counsel or guardian ad litem for a child in a proceeding under this part may forward records and information relating to the child, the child's birth family and the adoptive family to the court which finalized the adoption, as established by general rule by the Supreme Court. Such records and information shall be treated as court records for purposes of this chapter.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2921 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2921 - Establishment of registry

§ 2921. Establishment of registry. The department shall do all of the following: (1) Establish a Statewide confidential registry for the receipt, filing and retention of medical and social history information and authorization forms for all adoptions finalized or registered in this Commonwealth.  (2) Prescribe and distribute forms on which an adoptee, an adoptive parent and a birth parent may:  (i) Request identifying information or contact. (ii) Authorize or refuse to authorize the release of identifying information or contact. (iii) File and update information with the registry. (3) Retain information filed with the registry as a permanent record. (4) Disseminate the information pursuant to the requirements of this subchapter.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2922 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2922 - Informational material

§ 2922. Informational material. The department shall publicize the availability of the registry and the manner in which information may be filed with and obtained from the registry.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2923 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2923 - Filing information with registry

§ 2923. Filing information with registry. An adoptee, an adoptive parent and a birth parent may at any time file and update medical and social history information with the registry on a form developed by the department.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2924 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2924 - Who may request information from registry

§ 2924. Who may request information from registry. The following individuals may request information from the registry: (1) An adoptee who is at least 18 years of age. (2) An adoptive parent of an adoptee who is under 18 years of age, adjudicated incapacitated or deceased.  (3) A legal guardian of an adoptee who is under 18 years of age or adjudicated incapacitated. (4) A descendant of a deceased adoptee. (5) The birth parent of an adoptee who is at least 21 years of age. (6) A parent of a birth parent of an adoptee who is at least 21 years of age if the birth parent consents, is adjudicated incapacitated or is deceased.  (7) A birth sibling of an adoptee, if both the birth sibling and adoptee are at least 21 years of age, and:  (i) the birth sibling remained in the custody of the birth parent and the birth parent consents, is deceased or adjudicated incapacitated;  (ii) both the birth sibling and adoptee were adopted out of the same birth family; or (iii) the birth sibling was not adopted out of the birth family and did not remain in the custody of the birth parent.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2925 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2925 - Providing information from registry

§ 2925. Providing information from registry. (a) Nonidentifying information.--Nonidentifying information, if available, shall be provided to the requester within 30 days of the request.  (b) Identifying information.-- (1) If an authorization form is on file, the department shall notify the requester within 30 days of the request whether information may be released.  (2) If there is no authorization on file, the department shall designate an authorized representative to:  (i) Use reasonable efforts to locate the subject of the request. (ii) If the subject of the request is located, obtain written authorization from the subject before any information is released.  (c) Confidentiality of information.--In conducting a search, the court or agency shall ensure that no individual, other than a birth parent, is informed of the adoptee's existence and relationship to the birth parent.  (d) When inquiry not mandatory.--An authorized representative of the court or agency conducting a search may not make an inquiry which the representative reasonably believes may compromise the confidentiality relating to the relationship between the adoptee and a birth parent of the adoptee.  (e) Authorization form.--An authorization form allowing the release of identifying information may be withdrawn at any time by the individual who signed the authorization form.  (f) Editing information.--Before the release of information from the registry, the department shall remove any identifying information, unless authorized in writing by the subject of the information to release the identifying information.    Cross References. Section 2925 is referred to in section 2911 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2926 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2926 - Rules and regulations

§ 2926. Rules and regulations. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this subchapter. The department may request, but shall not require, an agency to submit medical and social history information for adoptions finalized or registered in this Commonwealth prior to the effective date of this subchapter.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2931 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2931 - Access to information

§ 2931. Access to information. (a) Who may access information.--The following individuals may file a written request for nonidentifying information or identifying information or contact with the court which finalized the adoption, the agency which coordinated the adoption or a successor agency:  (1) An adoptee who is at least 18 years of age. (2) An adoptive parent of an adoptee who is: (i) under 18 years of age; (ii) adjudicated incapacitated and is 18 years of age or older; or (iii) deceased. (3) A legal guardian of an adoptee who is under 18 years of age or adjudicated incapacitated. (4) A descendant of a deceased adoptee. (5) A birth parent of an adoptee who is 21 years of age or older. (6) A parent of a birth parent of an adoptee who is 21 years of age or older, if the birth parent consents, is adjudicated incapacitated or is deceased.  (7) A birth sibling of an adoptee, if both the birth sibling and adoptee are 21 years of age or older and:  (i) the birth sibling remained in the custody of the birth parent and the birth parent consents, is deceased or adjudicated incapacitated;  (ii) both the birth sibling and the adoptee were adopted out of the same birth family; or  (iii) the birth sibling was not adopted out of the birth family and did not remain in the custody of the birth parent.  (b) Who may be the subject of a request for information.--An individual enumerated under subsection (a) may request nonidentifying or identifying information regarding or contact with the following individuals:  (1) An adoptee who is 21 years of age or older. (2) A birth parent of an adoptee. (3) A parent of a birth parent of an adoptee who is 21 years of age or older, if the birth parent consents, is adjudicated incapacitated or is deceased.  (4) A birth sibling of an adoptee, if both the birth sibling and the adoptee are 21 years of age or older and:  (i) the birth sibling remained in the custody of the birth parent and the birth parent consents, is deceased or adjudicated incapacitated;  (ii) both the birth sibling and the adoptee were adopted out of the same birth family; or  (iii) the birth sibling was not adopted out of the birth family and did not remain in the custody of the birth parent.
23 PA Cons Stat § 2932 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records|Section 2932 - Nonidentifying information

§ 2932. Nonidentifying information. (a) Notice of receipt of request.--When the court or agency receives a written request for nonidentifying information, it shall, within 30 days, notify the individual requesting the information of its receipt of the request.  (b) Furnishing nonidentifying information.--The court or agency shall, within 120 days, review its records and furnish to the requester any information concerning the adoption that will not compromise the confidentiality of the relationship between the adoptee and the adoptee's birth parent.