2010 Maine Code
TITLE 18-A: PROBATE CODE
Article 9: ADOPTION
18-A §9-308. Final decree; dispositional hearing

Part 3: ADOPTION PROCEDURES HEADING: PL 1995, C. 694, PT. C, §7 (NEW)

§9-308. Final decree; dispositional hearing

(a). The court shall grant a final decree of adoption if:

(1). All necessary consents, relinquishments or terminations of parental rights have been duly executed and filed with the court; [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(2). An adoption study, when required by section 9-304, has been filed with the court; [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(3). A list of all disbursements as required by section 9-306 has been filed with the court; [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(4). The petitioner is a suitable adopting parent and desires to establish a parent and child relationship with the adoptee; [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(5). The best interests of the adoptee are served by the adoption; and [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(6). All other requirements of this article have been met. [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]

(b). In determining the best interests of the adoptee, the court shall consider and evaluate the following factors to give the adoptee a permanent home at the earliest possible date:

(1). The love, affection and other emotional ties existing between the adoptee and the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the putative father; [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

(2). The capacity and disposition of the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the putative father to educate and give the adoptee love, affection and guidance and to meet the needs of the adoptee. An adoption may not be delayed or denied because the adoptive parent and the child do not share the same race, color or national origin; and [1999, c. 78, §1 (AMD).]

(3). The capacity and disposition of the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the putative father to provide the adoptee with food, clothing and other material needs, education, permanence and medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted in place of medical care under the laws of this State. [1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

[ 1999, c. 78, §1 (AMD) .]

(c). The court shall enter its findings in a written decree that includes the new name of the adoptee. The final decree must further order that from the date of the decree the adoptee is the child of the petitioner and must be accorded the status set forth in section 9-105. If the court determines that it is in the best interest of the child, the court may require that the names of the child and of the petitioner be kept confidential.

[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]

(d). Upon completion of an adoption proceeding, the biological parents who consented to an adoption or who executed a surrender and release must be notified of the completion by regular mail at their last known address. Notice under this subsection is not required to a biological parent who is also a petitioner. When the biological parents' rights have been terminated pursuant to Title 22, section 4055, the notice must be given to the department and the department shall notify the biological parents of the completion by regular mail at their last known address. Actual receipt of the notice is not a precondition of completion and does not affect the rights or responsibilities of adoptees or adoptive parents.

[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]

(e). The department shall notify the grandparents of a child when the child is placed for adoption if the department has received notice that the grandparents were granted reasonable rights of visitation or access under Title 19-A, chapter 59 or Title 22, section 4005-E.

[ 2001, c. 696, §9 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1995, c. 694, §C7 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). 1999, c. 78, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 696, §9 (AMD).