2021 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE
Article 9: ADOPTION
Part 3: ADOPTION PROCEDURES
18-C §9-306. Allowable payments; expenses

§9-306. Allowable payments; expenses

1.  Allowable payments by or on behalf of petitioner.  Except when one of the petitioners is a blood relative of the adoptee or the adoptee is an adult, only the following expenses may be paid by or on behalf of a petitioner in any proceeding under this Article:  

A. The actual cost of legal services related to the surrender and release or the consent and to the adoption process;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. Prenatal and postnatal counseling expenses for the person giving birth to the child;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. Prenatal, birthing and other related medical expenses for the person giving birth to the child;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

D. Necessary transportation expenses to obtain the services listed in paragraphs A, B and C;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

E. Foster care expenses for the child;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

F. Necessary living expenses for the person giving birth to the child and the child;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

G. For a putative parent, legal and counseling expenses related to the surrender and release, the consent and the adoption process; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

H. Fees to a licensed child-placing agency providing services in connection with the pending adoption.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

2.  Full accounting of disbursements by petitioner.  Prior to the dispositional hearing pursuant to section 9-308, the petitioner shall file a full accounting 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 accounting report must be signed under penalty of perjury and must be submitted to the court on or before the date the final decree is granted. The accounting report must be itemized and show the services related to the adoption or to the placement of the adoptee for adoption that were received by the adoptee's parents, by the adoptee or on behalf of the petitioner. The accounting must include the dates of each payment and the names and addresses of each attorney, physician, hospital, licensed child-placing agency or other person or organization who received funds or anything of value from the petitioner in connection with the adoption or the placement of the adoptee with the petitioner or participated in any way in the handling of the funds, either directly or indirectly. This subsection does not apply when one of the petitioners is a blood relative or the adoptee is an adult.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

3.  Payments not contingent; other expenses and payments prohibited.  Payment for expenses allowable under subsection 1 may not be contingent upon any future decision a parent might make pertaining to the child. Other expenses or payments to parents are not authorized.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).