reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
15 V.S.A. § 2-409
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 2 - Adoption of Minors|§ 2-409. Revocation of relinquishment

§ 2-409. Revocation of relinquishment|(a) A relinquishment under this title is revoked if:  (1) within 21 days after a relinquishment is executed, a parent who executed the relinquishment gives written notice to the court in which the relinquishment was signed and the agency to which the minor has been relinquished that the parent revokes the relinquishment, or the parent complies with any other instructions for revocation specified in the relinquishment; or (2) the person who executed the relinquishment and the agency that accepted it agree to its revocation.   (b) The court shall set aside a relinquishment if the person who executed the relinquishment establishes:  (1) by clear and convincing evidence, before a decree of adoption is issued, that the relinquishment was obtained by fraud or duress; or (2) by a preponderance of the evidence, that a condition permitting revocation has occurred, as expressly provided for in the relinquishment pursuant to section 2-406 of this title.   (c) If a relinquishment by a person who had legal and physical custody of a minor when the relinquishment was executed is revoked, the agency shall immediately return the minor to the person's custody and move to dismiss a proceeding for adoption. If the minor is not returned immediately, the person may petition the court named in the relinquishment for appropriate relief. The court shall hear the petition expeditiously.(d) If a relinquishment by a person who had legal and physical custody of a minor when the relinquishment was executed is set aside under subdivision (b)(1) of this section, the court shall dismiss any proceeding for adoption and order the immediate return of the minor to the custody of the person.(e) If a relinquishment by a person who had legal and physical custody of a minor when the relinquishment was executed is set aside under subdivision (b)(2) of this section and no ground exists under Article 3, Part 5 of this title, for terminating the relationship of parent and child between the person and the minor, the court shall dismiss a proceeding for adoption and order the immediate return of the minor to the custody of the person, unless the court finds that return will be detrimental to the minor.(f) If a relinquishment by a person who did not have physical custody of a minor when the relinquishment was executed is revoked or set aside and no ground exists under Article 3, Part 5, for terminating the relationship of parent and child between the person and the minor, the court shall dismiss a proceeding for adoption and shall issue an order providing for the care and custody of the minor according to the best interests of the minor. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-102
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-102. Venue

§ 3-102. Venue|(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a petition for adoption may be filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the district in which a petitioner resides or has legal residence at the time of filing, the adoptee resides, or an office of an agency or the Department that placed the adoptee is located.(b) A consent or petition for relinquishment or termination of parental rights may be filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the district in which the minor resides, a relinquishing parent resides, or the agency or person receiving the relinquishment has its principal place of business.(c) Review of the appeal of a preplacement assessment shall take place in the probate division of the Superior Court in the district in which the appealing party resides or where the agency or person conducting the assessment is located. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238a, eff. Feb. 1, 2011.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-103
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-103. Transfer, stay, or dismissal

§ 3-103. Transfer, stay, or dismissal|If the court, on its own motion or on motion of a party to the proceeding for adoption, finds in the interests of justice that the matter should be heard in another forum where venue lies under section 3-102 of this title, the court may transfer, stay, or dismiss the proceeding, subject to any further conditions imposed by the court. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-201
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-201. Appointment of attorney or guardian ad litem

§ 3-201. Appointment of attorney or guardian ad litem|(a) In a proceeding under this title which may result in the termination of a relationship of parent and child, the court shall appoint an attorney for any person who is indigent, a minor, or incompetent who appears in the proceeding and whose parental relationship to a child may be terminated, unless the court finds that the minor or person who is incompetent has sufficient financial means to hire an attorney, or the person who is indigent declines to be represented by an attorney.(b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in a contested proceeding under this title and may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in an uncontested proceeding. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 74.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-203
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-203. Confidentiality of proceedings

§ 3-203. Confidentiality of proceedings|A civil proceeding under this title shall be heard in closed court. The court may admit persons not directly related to the proceedings on motion for good cause shown. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-204
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-204. Custody during pendency of proceeding

§ 3-204. Custody during pendency of proceeding|In order to protect the welfare of the minor, the court shall make an interim order for custody of a minor adoptee according to the best interests of the minor in a contested proceeding under this title for adoption or termination of a parental relationship and may make an interim order for custody in an uncontested proceeding. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-205
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-205. Removal of adoptee from State

§ 3-205. Removal of adoptee from State|Before a decree of adoption is issued, a petitioner may not remove a minor adoptee for more than 30 consecutive days from the state in which the petitioner resides without the permission of the court, if the minor was placed directly for adoption, or, if an agency placed the minor for adoption, the permission of the agency. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-206
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-206. Joinder of termination action

§ 3-206. Joinder of termination action|An action for termination of the legal relationship of parent and child pursuant to Part 5 of this article may be joined with a proceeding for adoption. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-207
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-207. Consolidation and coordination

§ 3-207. Consolidation and coordination|If another action or proceeding concerning the adoptee is pending in the Family Division of the Superior Court of this State during the pendency of a proceeding for adoption under this title, then either court in which an action is pending, on its own motion or on motion of any party to the proceeding for adoption, may request that the proceeding for adoption be consolidated with the Family Division of the Superior Court proceeding. Such a consolidation may be ordered by the Family Division of the Superior Court receiving the adoption action, pursuant to 4 V.S.A. § 455. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154, § 238.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-208
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-208. Use of initials

§ 3-208. Use of initials|If a person uses initials to keep the person's identity confidential as provided for under any section in this title, the court may require that person to disclose his or her identity to another party to a proceeding under this title if the court finds that such disclosure is necessary in order for the other party to exercise his or her rights in the proceeding. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-301
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-301. Standing to petition to adopt

§ 3-301. Standing to petition to adopt|(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, the only persons who have standing to petition to adopt a minor under this article are:  (1) a person with whom a minor has been placed for adoption or who has been selected as a prospective adoptive parent by a person authorized under this title to place the minor for adoption; or (2) a person with whom a minor has not been placed for adoption or who has not been selected or rejected as a prospective adoptive parent pursuant to Article 2, Part 1 and Part 2 of this title, but who has had physical custody of the minor for at least six months immediately before seeking to file a petition for adoption and is allowed to file the petition by the court for good cause shown.   (b) The spouse of a petitioner shall consent to the petition unless judicially declared incompetent.(c) A petition for adoption of a minor stepchild by a stepparent may be filed under Article 4 of this title and a petition for adoption of an emancipated minor may be filed under Article 5 of this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-302
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-302. Time for filing petition

§ 3-302. Time for filing petition|(a) Unless the court for good cause extends the time for filing, a petition for adoption shall be filed no later than 45 days after a minor is placed with the petitioner for the specific purpose of adoption. This provision does not apply to foster parent, relative, or stepparent adoptions.(b) If a petition is not filed within 45 days after placement or within any extended period of time approved by the court, any interested person or agency may file an action challenging the prospective adoptive parent's custody of the minor. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-303
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-303. Caption of petition

§ 3-303. Caption of petition|The caption of the petition shall read "In the Matter of the Adoption of ........... ." and shall contain the name by which the adoptee will be known or initials for the adoptee. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-401
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-401. Service of notice

§ 3-401. Service of notice|(a) Unless notice has been waived, notice of a proceeding for adoption of a minor shall be served, within 30 days after a petition for adoption is filed, upon:  (1) a person whose consent to the adoption is required under section 2-401 of this title, but notice need not be served upon a person whose parental relationship to the minor or whose status as a guardian has been terminated; (2) an agency whose consent to the adoption is required under section 2-401; (3) a person whom the petitioner knows is claiming to be or who is named as the father or possible father of the minor adoptee and whose paternity of the minor has not been judicially determined, but notice need not be served upon a man who has executed a verified statement, as described in subdivision 2-402(a)(3) of this title, denying paternity or disclaiming any interest in the minor; (4) a person other than the petitioner who has legal or physical custody of the minor adoptee or who has a right of communication or visitation with the minor under an existing court order issued by a court in this or another state; (5) the spouse of the petitioner if the spouse has not joined in the petition; and (6) a grandparent of a minor adoptee if the grandparent's child is a deceased parent of the minor and, before death, the deceased parent had not executed a consent or relinquishment or the deceased parent's parental relationship to the minor had not been terminated.   (b) The court shall require notice of a proceeding for adoption of a minor to be served upon any person the court finds, at any time during the proceeding, is:  (1) a person described in subsection (a) of this section who has not been given notice; (2) a person who has revoked a consent or relinquishment pursuant to subsection 2-408(a) or 2-409(a) of this title or is attempting to have a consent or relinquishment set aside pursuant to subsection 2-408(b) or 2-409(b) of this title; or (3) a person who, on the basis of a previous relationship with the minor adoptee, a parent, an alleged parent, or the petitioner, can provide information that is relevant to the proposed adoption and that the court in its discretion wants to hear.   (c) If, at any time in the proceeding, it appears to the court that there is an alleged father of the adoptee who has not been given notice, the court shall require notice of the proceeding to be given to him.(d) The court shall send a duplicate copy of the petition to the Department. The Department shall determine whether or not the petitioners have been the subject of a substantiated complaint filed with the Department, and shall report its findings to the court within 14 days of receiving the petition. If a substantiated complaint has been filed with the Department, the Department shall include a copy of the investigative report that relates to the complaint with the findings it files with the court. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-402
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-402. Content of notice

§ 3-402. Content of notice|A notice required by section 3-401 of this title shall use initials for the name of a petitioner or any person named in the petition for adoption who has not waived confidentiality and shall contain:  (1) the caption of the petition; (2) the address and telephone number of the court where the petition is pending; (3) a concise summary of the relief requested in the petition; (4) the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the petitioner's attorney; (5) a statement that the person served with the notice shall file a written appearance in the adoption proceeding within 20 days after service in order to participate in the proceeding and to receive further notice of the proceeding, including notice of the time and place of any hearing. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-403
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-403. Manner and effect of service

§ 3-403. Manner and effect of service|(a) Service of the notice required by section 3-401 of this title shall be made in a manner appropriate under the Vermont Rules of Probate Procedure unless the court otherwise directs; provided however, a parent or alleged parent who has not consented to the adoption or whose parental rights have not been terminated shall be personally served in accordance with the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure.(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person who fails, without good cause, to respond to the notice within 20 days after its service may not appear in or receive further notice of the proceeding for adoption.(c) If a person is a respondent in a petition to terminate the relationship of parent and child and the petition is served upon the respondent with the notice required by section 3-401, the respondent may not appear in or receive further notice of the proceeding for adoption or for termination unless the respondent responds to the notice as required by section 3-503 of this title. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-404
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-404. Investigation and notice to unknown father

§ 3-404. Investigation and notice to unknown father|(a) It is important to the adoptee to have nonidentifying information, including health history, about his or her biological father, and for identifying information about him to be available upon the adoptee's majority. It is the policy of this title to make every reasonable effort to identify and notify the biological father of the adoptee. Inquiries as to the identity of the biological father shall be conducted in a way that preserves the dignity and legal rights of the woman who gave birth to the adoptee.(b) If at any time in the proceeding it appears to the court that an unknown father who is entitled to notice may not have been given notice, the court shall determine whether he can be identified. The determination shall be based on evidence that includes inquiry of appropriate persons in an effort to identify him for the purpose of providing notice.(c) If inquiry pursuant to subsection (b) of this section identifies any man who is entitled to notice under section 3-401 of this title, the court shall require notice of the proceeding to be given to him pursuant to section 3-403 of this title.(d) If, in an inquiry pursuant to this section, the woman who gave birth to the minor adoptee fails to disclose the identity of a possible father or reveal his whereabouts, she shall be advised that the proceeding for adoption may be delayed or subject to challenge if a possible father is not given notice of the proceeding and that the lack of information about the father's medical and genetic history will be detrimental to the adoptee. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-405
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-405. Waiver of notice

§ 3-405. Waiver of notice|(a) A person entitled to receive notice required under this part may waive the notice before the court or in a consent, relinquishment, or other written document signed by the person or on behalf of the person.(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person who has waived the requisite notice is not required to appear in the adoption proceeding.(c) A parent who has executed a consent or relinquishment containing a waiver of notice may appear in the adoption proceeding for the limited purpose of moving to set aside the consent or relinquishment on the ground that it was obtained by fraud or coercion or for purposes as the court may permit as necessary to determine whether or not to grant the petition. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-406
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-406. Filing proof of service

§ 3-406. Filing proof of service|Proof of service of notice on each person entitled to receive notice under this part, or a certified copy of each waiver of notice, shall be on file with the court before the hearing on the adoption begins. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-501
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-501. Authorization

§ 3-501. Authorization|A petition to terminate the relationship between a parent or an alleged parent and a minor child may be filed in a proceeding for adoption under this title by:  (1) a parent or a guardian who has selected a prospective adoptive parent for a minor and who intends to place, or has placed, the minor with that person; (2) a parent whose spouse has filed a petition under Article 4 of this title to adopt the parent's minor child; (3) a prospective adoptive parent of the minor who has filed a petition to adopt under this article or Article 4; or (4) an agency that has selected a prospective adoptive parent for the minor and intends to place, or has placed, the minor with that person. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-502
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-502. Time and content of petition

§ 3-502. Time and content of petition|(a) A petition under this part may be filed at any time before entry of a decree of adoption.(b) The petition shall be signed and verified by the petitioner, filed with the court, and state:  (1) the name and address of the petitioner; (2) the name of the minor; (3) the name and last known address of the parent or alleged parent whose parental relationship the petitioner seeks to terminate; (4) the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the petition and the grounds on which termination of a parental relationship is sought; (5) if the petitioner is a prospective adoptive parent, that the petitioner intends to proceed with the petition to adopt the minor if the petition to terminate is granted; and (6) if the petitioner is a parent, a guardian, or an agency, that the petitioner has placed or intends to place the minor for adoption. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-503
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-503. Service of petition and notice

§ 3-503. Service of petition and notice|(a) A petition to terminate under this part and a notice of hearing on the petition shall be served upon the respondent in the manner prescribed in section 3-403 of this title.(b) The notice of a hearing shall inform the respondent of the method for responding and that:  (1) the respondent has a right to be represented by an attorney and may be entitled to have an attorney appointed by the court; and (2) if the respondent fails to respond within 20 days after service and, in the case of an alleged father, fails to file a claim of paternity within 20 days after service unless a claim of paternity is pending, the respondent may not appear in or receive further notice of the proceeding for adoption or termination and that the failure to respond will result in termination of the relationship of parent and child between the respondent and the minor unless the proceeding for adoption is dismissed. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 3-505
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15A - Adoption Act|Chapter 3 - General Procedure for Adoption|§ 3-505. Effect of order granting petition

§ 3-505. Effect of order granting petition|(a) An order issued under this part granting the petition:  (1) terminates the relationship of parent and child between the respondent and the minor; (2) extinguishes any right the respondent had to withhold consent to a proposed adoption of the minor or to further notice of a proceeding for adoption; and (3) is a final order for purposes of appeal.   (b) An order issued under this part granting the petition shall not terminate an obligation for arrearages of child support. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)