reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 9-9-207 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-207. Persons as to whom consent not required

 (a) Consent to adoption is not required of:  (1) a parent who has deserted a child without affording means of identification or who has abandoned a child;  (2) a parent of a child in the custody of another, if the parent for a period of at least one (1) year has failed significantly without justifiable cause (i) to communicate with the child or (ii) to provide for the care and support of the child as required by law or judicial decree;  (3) the father of a minor if the father's consent is not required by § 9-9-206(a)(2);  (4) a parent who has relinquished his or her right to consent under § 9-9-220;  (5) a parent whose parental rights have been terminated by order of court under § 9-9-220 or § 9-27-341;  (6) a parent judicially declared incompetent or mentally defective if the court dispenses with the parent's consent;  (7) any parent of the individual to be adopted, if the individual is an adult;  (8) any legal guardian or lawful custodian of the individual to be adopted, other than a parent, who has failed to respond in writing to a request for consent for a period of sixty (60) days or who, after examination of his or her written reasons for withholding consent, is found by the court to be withholding his or her consent unreasonably;  (9) the spouse of the individual to be adopted, if the failure of the spouse to consent to the adoption is excused by the court by reason of prolonged unexplained absence, unavailability, incapacity, or circumstances constituting an unreasonable withholding of consent;  (10) a putative father of a minor who signed an acknowledgement of paternity but who failed to establish a significant custodial, personal, or financial relationship with the juvenile prior to the time the petition for adoption is filed; or  (11) a putative father of a minor who is listed on the Putative Father Registry but who failed to establish a significant custodial, personal, or financial relationship with the juvenile prior to the time the petition for adoption is filed.    (b) Except as provided in §§ 9-9-212 and 9-9-224, notice of a hearing on a petition for adoption need not be given to a person whose consent is not required or to a person whose consent or relinquishment has been filed with the petition.
AR Code § 9-9-208 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-208. How consent is executed

 (a) The required consent to adoption shall be executed at any time after the birth of the child and in the manner following:  (1) If by the individual to be adopted, in the presence of the court;  (2) If by an agency, by the executive head or other authorized representative, in the presence of a person authorized to take acknowledgments;  (3) If by any other person, in the presence of the court or in the presence of a person authorized to take acknowledgments;  (4) If by a court, by appropriate order or certificate.    (b) A consent which does not name or otherwise identify the adopting parent is valid if the consent contains a statement by the person whose consent it is that the person consenting voluntarily executed the consent irrespective of disclosure of the name or other identification of the adopting parent.  (c) If the parent is a minor, the writing shall be signed by a court-ordered guardian ad litem, who has been appointed by a judge of a court of record in this state to appear on behalf of the minor parent for the purpose of executing consent. The signing shall be made in the presence of an authorized representative of the Arkansas licensed placement agency taking custody of the child, or in the presence of a notary public, or in the presence and with the approval of a judge of a court of record of this state or any other state in which the minor was present at the time it was signed.
AR Code § 9-9-209 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-209. Withdrawal of consent

 (a) A consent to adoption cannot be withdrawn after the entry of a decree of adoption.  (b)  (1) A consent to adopt may be withdrawn within ten (10) calendar days, or, if a waiver of the ten-day period is elected under subdivision (b)(3) of this section, five (5) calendar days after it is signed or the child is born, whichever is later, by filing an affidavit with the probate division clerk of the circuit court in the county designated by the consent as the county in which the guardianship petition will be filed, if there is a guardianship, or where the petition for adoption will be filed, if there is no guardianship. If the ten-day period, or, if a waiver of the ten-day period is elected under subdivision (b)(3) of this section, the five-day period ends on a weekend or a legal holiday, the person may file the affidavit the next working day. No fee shall be charged for the filing of the affidavit. The court may waive the ten-day period for filing a withdrawal of consent for agencies as defined by § 9-9-202(5), minors over ten (10) years of age who consented to the adoption, or biological parents if a stepparent is adopting.  (2) The consent shall state that the person has the right of withdrawal of consent and shall provide the address of the probate division clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the guardianship will be filed, if there is a guardianship, or where the petition for adoption will be filed, if there is no guardianship.  (3) The consent shall state that the person may waive the ten-day period for the withdrawal of consent for an adoption and elect to limit the maximum time for the withdrawal of consent for an adoption to five (5) days.
AR Code § 9-9-210 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-210. Petition for adoption

 (a) A petition for adoption signed and verified by the petitioner shall be filed with the clerk of the court, and state:  (1) The date and place of birth of the individual to be adopted, if known;  (2) The name to be used for the individual to be adopted;  (3) The date the petitioner:  (A) Acquired custody of the minor and of placement of the minor and the name of the person placing the minor; and a statement as to how the petitioner acquired custody of the minor; or  (B) Was selected to adopt the minor by the child placement agency licensed by the Child Welfare Agency Review Board;    (4) The full name, age, place, and duration of residence of the petitioner;  (5) The marital status of the petitioner, including the date and place of marriage, if married;  (6) That the petitioner has facilities and resources, including those available under a subsidy agreement, suitable to provide for the nurture and care of the minor to be adopted and that it is the desire of the petitioner to establish the relationship of parent and child with the individual to be adopted;  (7) A description and estimate of value of any property of the individual to be adopted;  (8) The name of any person whose consent to the adoption is required, but who has not consented, and facts or circumstances which excuse the lack of his or her normally required consent, to the adoption; and  (9) In cases involving a child born to a mother unmarried at the time of the child's birth, a statement that an inquiry has been made to the Putative Father Registry and either:  (A) No information has been filed in regard to the child born to this mother; or  (B) Information is contained in the registry.      (b) A certified copy of the birth certificate or verfication of birth record of the individual to be adopted, if available, and the required consents and relinquishments shall be filed with the clerk.
AR Code § 9-9-211 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-211. Report of petitioner's expenditures

 (a) Except as specified in subsection (b) of this section, the petitioner, in any proceeding for the adoption of a minor, shall file, before the petition is heard, a full accounting report in a manner acceptable to the court of all disbursements of anything of value made or agreed to be made by or on behalf of the petitioner in connection with the adoption. The petitioner shall file a sworn affidavit showing any expenses incurred in connection with:  (1) The birth of the minor;  (2) Placement of the minor with petitioner;  (3) Medical or hospital care received by the mother or by the minor during the mother's prenatal care and confinement;  (4) Services relating to the adoption or to the placement of the minor for adoption which were received by or on behalf of the petitioner, either natural parent of the minor, or any other person; and  (5) Fees charged by all attorneys involved in the adoption, including those fees charged by out-of-state attorneys.    (b) This section does not apply to an adoption by a stepparent whose spouse is a natural or adoptive parent of the child, or to an adoption where the person to be adopted is an adult, or where the petitioner and the minor are related to each other in the second degree.  (c) The petitioner shall file a signed, sworn affidavit verifying that all expenses as required by this section have been truthfully listed and shall be informed by the court as to the consequences of knowingly making false material statements.
AR Code § 9-9-213 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-213. Required residence of minor

 (a) A final decree of adoption shall not be issued and an interlocutory decree of adoption does not become final until the minor to be adopted, other than a stepchild of the petitioner, has lived in the home for at least six (6) months after placement by an agency or for at least six (6) months after the petition for adoption is filed.  (b) Residence in the home is not required for a minor to be adopted if the minor is in the custody of the Department of Human Services, and the minor must reside outside of the home to receive medically necessary health care.
AR Code § 9-9-214 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-214. Appearance — Continuance — Disposition of petition

 (a) The petitioner and the individual to be adopted shall appear at the hearing on the petition, unless the presence of either is excused by the court for good cause shown.  (b) The court may continue the hearing from time to time to permit further observation, investigation, or consideration of any facts or circumstances affecting the granting of the petition.  (c) If at the conclusion of the hearing the court determines that the required consents have been obtained or excused and the required period for the withdrawal of consent and withdrawal of relinquishment have passed and that the adoption is in the best interest of the individual to be adopted, it may (1) issue a final decree of adoption; or (2) issue an interlocutory decree of adoption which by its own terms automatically becomes a final decree of adoption on a day therein specified, which day shall not be less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year from the date of issuance of the decree, unless sooner vacated by the court for good cause shown.  (d) If the requirements for a decree under subsection (c) of this section have not been met, the court shall dismiss the petition and the child shall be returned to the person or entity having custody of the child prior to the filing of the petition.
AR Code § 9-9-216 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-216. Appeal from and validation of adoption decree

 (a) An appeal from any final order or decree rendered under this subchapter may be taken in the manner and time provided for appeal from a judgment in a civil action.  (b) Subject to the disposition of an appeal, upon the expiration of one (1) year after an adoption decree is issued, the decree cannot be questioned by any person including the petitioner, in any manner upon any ground, including fraud, misrepresentation, failure to give any required notice, or lack of jurisdiction of the parties or of the subject matter unless, in the case of the adoption of a minor, the petitioner has not taken custody of the minor or, in the case of the adoption of an adult, the adult had no knowledge of the decree within the one-year period.
AR Code § 9-9-218 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-218. Recognition of foreign decrees affecting adoption

 A decree of court terminating the relationship of parent and child or establishing the relationship by adoption issued pursuant to due process of law by a court of any other jurisdiction within or without the United States shall be recognized in this state. The rights and obligations of the parties as to matters within the jurisdiction of this state shall be determined as though the decree were issued by a court of this state.
AR Code § 9-9-219 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-219. Application for new birth record

 Upon entry of a final decree of adoption or an interlocutory decree of adoption that does not require a subsequent hearing, the clerk of the court shall prepare an application for a birth record in the new name of the adopted individual and forward the application to the appropriate vital statistics office of the place, if known, where the adopted individual was born and forward a copy of the decree to the Division of Vital Records for statistical purposes. The division may issue a birth certificate for any child born in a place whose law does not provide for the issuance of a substituted certificate.
AR Code § 9-9-221 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-221. Uniformity of interpretation

 This subchapter shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
AR Code § 9-9-222 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-222. Repeal and effective date

 (a) The following acts and laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are repealed as of the effective date of this subchapter:  (1) Acts 1947, No. 369;  (2) Acts 1953, No. 254;  (3) Acts 1953, No. 265;  (4) Acts 1969, No. 303, § 17.    (b) Any adoption or termination proceedings pending on the effective date of this subchapter are not affected thereby.
AR Code § 9-9-223 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-223. Termination of rights of nonparental relatives

 Except as provided in this subchapter with regard to parental rights, any rights to a child which a nonparental relative may derive through a parent or by court order may, if the best interests of the child so require, be terminated in connection with a proceeding for adoption or for termination of parental rights.
AR Code § 9-9-224 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 2 - Revised Uniform Adoption Act|§ 9-9-224. Child born to unmarried mother

 In all cases involving a child born to a mother unmarried at the time of the child's birth, the following procedure shall apply:   (a) Upon filing of the petition for adoption and prior to the entry of a decree for adoption a certified statement shall be obtained from the Putative Father Registry stating:  (1) The information contained in the registry in regard to the child who is the subject of the adoption; or  (2) That no information is contained in the registry at the time the petition for adoption was filed.    (b) When information concerning the child is contained in the registry at the time of the filing of the petition for adoption, notice of the adoption proceedings shall be served on the registrant unless waived by the registrant in writing signed before a notary public. All confidential information regarding the adoptive parents and the child to be adopted shall be removed from the notice prior to being served to the registrant. Service of notice under this section shall be given in accordance with the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, except that notice by publication shall not be required.  (c) Upon receipt of notice, the registrant, if he wishes to appear and be heard, shall file a responsive pleading within the time limits set in the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.
AR Code § 9-9-301 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 3 - Children in Public Custody — Consent to Adoption|§ 9-9-301. Adoptions under prior law validated

 All adoptions that have been granted by the probate courts of this state under authority of Acts 1947, No. 369, § 7 [repealed], when the guardian appointed was appointed under the guardianship procedures outlined under Acts 1911, No. 215, § 12 [repealed] and Acts 1947, No. 369, § 20 [repealed], are confirmed and made valid.
AR Code § 9-9-401 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-401. Title

 This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act” and includes only state-funded adoptions.
AR Code § 9-9-402 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-402. Definitions

 As used in this subchapter:   (1) “Child” means a minor as defined by Arkansas law; and  (2) “Special needs” means a child who is not likely to be adopted by reason of one (1) or more of the following conditions:  (A) The child has special needs for medical or rehabilitative care;  (B) Age;  (C) A racial or ethnic factor;  (D) A sibling relationship; or  (E) A child who is at high risk for developing a serious physical, mental, developmental, or emotional condition if documentation of the risk is provided by a medical professional specializing in the area of the condition for which the child is considered at risk.
AR Code § 9-9-403 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-403. Purpose

 The purpose of this subchapter is to supplement the Arkansas adoption statutes by making possible through public financial subsidy the most appropriate adoption of each child certified by the Department of Human Services as requiring a subsidy to assure adoption.
AR Code § 9-9-404 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-404. Administration — Funding

 (a) The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an ongoing program of subsidized adoption by persons who are determined by the department to be eligible to adopt under this subchapter.  (b) Subsidies and services for children under this program shall be provided out of funds appropriated to the department for the maintenance of children in foster care or made available to it from other sources.
AR Code § 9-9-405 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-405. Promulgation of rules

 (a) The Department of Human Services shall adopt rules consistent with this subchapter.  (b) The department shall adopt rules to ensure that post-adoptive services are provided to adoptive parents who seek the assistance of the department to prevent the adoption from being disrupted.
AR Code § 9-9-406 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-406. Records confidential

 All records regarding subsidized adoption shall be confidential and may be opened for inspection only under the provisions of § 9-9-217.
AR Code § 9-9-407 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 9 - Adoption|Subchapter 4 - Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act|§ 9-9-407. Eligibility

 (a) A family is initially eligible for a subsidy for purposes of adoption if:  (1)  (A) No other potential adoptive family has been identified and is willing and able to adopt the child without the use of a subsidy.  (B) In the case of a child who has established significant emotional ties with prospective adoptive parents while in their care as a foster child, the Department of Human Services may certify the child as eligible for a subsidy without searching for families willing to take the child without a subsidy.  (C) In the case of a child who will be adopted by members of his or her biological family, the department may certify the child as eligible for a subsidy without searching for families willing to take the child without a subsidy;    (2) The department has determined the family to be eligible;  (3) The child is in the custody of the department; and  (4) The child has been determined by the department to have special needs.    (b) A child who is a resident of Arkansas when eligibility for a subsidy is certified shall remain eligible and receive a subsidy, if necessary for adoption, regardless of the domicile or residence of the adopting parents at the time of application for adoption, placement, legal decree of adoption, or thereafter.  (c) A family is eligible for a legal subsidy for purposes of adoption if:  (1) The child is in the custody of the department; or  (2)  (A) The child was in the custody of the department;  (B) Legal custody was transferred to a relative or other person; and  (C) The juvenile division case remains open pending the child obtaining permanency.