2011 Vermont Code
Title 15A Adoption Act
Article 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 105 Legal relationship between adoptee and former parent after adoption

§ 1-105. Legal relationship between adoptee and former parent after adoption

(a) When a decree of adoption becomes final:

(1) all parental rights and duties of each former parent of the adoptee terminate, including the right of inheritance and intestate succession from or through the adoptee, but not including the duty to make past-due payments for child support;

(2) an adoptee's right of inheritance through intestacy from or through each former parent and the kindred of each former parent terminates; and

(3) the adoptee is not the child, descendant, heir, or issue of a former parent for the purpose of interpretation or construction of a donative disposition in any instrument, whether executed before or after the adoption, unless the document:

(A) expressly states a contrary intention; or

(B) includes the adoptee by name or other means which identifies the adoptee.

(b) If a donative instrument includes an adoptee as provided for in subdivision (a)(3)(B) of this section, a public custodian of adoption records is authorized to release information to the probate division of the superior court to assist in the identification or location of the adoptee. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238a, eff. Feb. 1, 2011.)