Montana Adoption Act

Overview

As used in this title, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Adoptee" means an adopted person or a person who is the subject of adoption proceedings that are intended to result in the adoptee becoming the legal child of another person. (2) "Adoption" means the act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child when it does not exist genetically. (3) "Adoptive parent" means an adult who has become the mother or father of a child through the legal process of adoption. (4) "Agency" means a child placement agency licensed by the state of Montana pursuant to Title 52, chapter 8, that is expressly empowered to place children preliminary to a possible adoption. (5) "Birth parent" means the woman who gave birth to the child or the father of genetic origin of the child. (6) "Child" means any person under 18 years of age. (7) "Confidential intermediary" means a person certified by the department and under contract with or employed by a nonprofit entity with expertise in adoption. (8) "Court" means a court of record in a competent jurisdiction and in Montana means a district court or a tribal court. (9) "Department" means the depart

Sections covered

• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-101Short title
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-102Purpose
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-103Definitions
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-104Power and duties of department
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-105Records to be confidential
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-106Certification as child with special needs
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-107Eligibility for subsidy
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-108Subsidy agreement
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-109Amount, duration, and scope of subsidy
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-110Repealed
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-111through 42-10-120 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-121Definitions
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-122Authorization
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-123Federal participation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-124Effect of compacts
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-125Compacts -- required contents
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-126Compacts -- optional contents
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-127Medical benefits -- rules
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-10-128Fraudulent obtaining of public assistance
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-101Short title
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-102Adoption policy
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-103Definitions
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-104Venue
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-105Who may be adopted
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-106Who may adopt1 cite
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-107Adoption prohibited if child not legally free
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-108Rights and responsibilities of parties in adoption proceedings
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-109Need for finality -- balancing of interests
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-110Presumed knowledge that child may be adopted without notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-111Unmarried birth mother's right of privacy
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-112through 42-1-114 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-1-115Vaccination status prohibited as evidence or grounds for decision
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-101Recognition of adoption in another jurisdiction
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-102Proceedings subject to Indian Child Welfare Acts
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-103Interstate placement
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-104International placement
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-105Fees for services -- special revenue account -- statutory appropriation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-106Rulemaking authority
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-201Definitions2 cites
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-202Putative father registry
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-203Purpose of registry
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-204Presumed knowledge of pregnancy -- duty to register to be afforded notice -- putative and presumed fathers
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-205Registration
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-206When putative father to register -- actual knowledge of pregnancy not required3 cites
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-207How registration submitted
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-208Burden of putative father to preserve rights upon receipt of notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-209Presumption created -- admissibility in other proceedings
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-210through 42-2-213 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-214Duties of department
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-215Information maintained in registry
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-216Storage of data
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-217Registry search -- request -- affidavit
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-218Duties of department upon receipt of request
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-219through 42-2-221 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-222Failure of agency to post notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-223Revocation of registration
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-224Certified copy of registration form to be furnished upon request
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-225Information confidential
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-226Registration of false information -- criminal and civil penalties
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-227through 42-2-229 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-230Responsibility of each party to protect interests -- putative fathers -- fraud no defense
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-301Consent required
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-302Persons whose consent not required
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-303Form of consent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-401Child available for adoption -- voluntary acts of parents
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-402Voluntary relinquishment -- validity
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-403Arrearages of child support -- responsibility to child
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-404Who may relinquish -- to whom
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-405Relinquishment by minor parent -- separate legal counsel in direct parental placement adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-406and 42-2-407 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-408Time and prerequisites for execution of relinquishment and consent to adoption -- copy of preplacement evaluation -- notarization
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-409Adoptive decision support services
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-410Revocation of relinquishment and consent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-411Conditional relinquishment and consent1 cite
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-412Content of relinquishment and consent to adopt
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-413Consequences of relinquishment and consent to adopt
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-414Notification of availability of mental health services
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-415and 42-2-416 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-417Grounds for court to set aside relinquishment and consent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-418Remedy when relinquishment and consent to adopt revoked or set aside -- expediency
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-419and 42-2-420 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-421Notarized denial of paternity -- no entitlement to notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-422Notarized acknowledgment of paternity and denial of interest in custody -- no entitlement to notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-501Timing of proceedings to terminate
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-502Expected child -- filing of petition indicating intent to release or consent to adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-503Notice to any named father of intent to release child for adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-601Venue
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-602Necessity for parental rights to be terminated
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-603Petition for termination of parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-604Contents of petition for termination of parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-605Notice of hearing -- service
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-606Hearing on petition to terminate parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-607Grounds for termination of parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-608Finding of unfitness
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-609Determination that no parent and child relationship exists
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-610Putative father -- termination based upon failure to establish substantial relationship
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-611Irrevocable waiver of parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-612through 42-2-615 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-616Appearance of parent at hearing -- determination of custody
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-617Effect of order terminating parental rights
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-618Appeal
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-619Expediency
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-620Finality
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-101Duty to disclose information -- form -- availability -- filing
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-102Retention of disclosures
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-201Preplacement evaluation -- timing
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-202Initiation of preplacement evaluation -- who conducts evaluation -- payment of fees
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-203Information to be reviewed in conducting preplacement evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-204Contents of preplacement evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-205Recommendation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-206Distribution of evaluation -- retention -- immunity for evaluator
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-207Action by department
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-208through 42-3-211 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-212Court waiver for relatives
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-213Filing of evaluation in adoption proceedings
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-3-301Requirement for preplacement evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-101Parties to direct parental placement adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-102Duties of placing parent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-103Direct parental placement -- information to be filed
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-104and 42-4-105 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-106Duty of prospective adoptive parent to provide preplacement evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-107through 42-4-109 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-110Duty to promptly petition
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-111Custody order
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-112Period for postplacement supervision
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-113Postplacement evaluation for direct parental placement adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-114Time and filing of evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-115Motion to enter adoption decree
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-116Records
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-201Factors to be considered -- best interests of child
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-202Parties to department or agency placement
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-203Duties of placing parent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-204Counseling requirements
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-205Waiting period following placement of child
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-206Petition for adoption filed by prospective adoptive parent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-207and 42-4-208 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-209Postplacement department or agency evaluation
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-210Consent to adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-211Postadoptive counseling and support -- intent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-301Relinquishment to stepparent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-302Standing to adopt stepchild
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-303Consent to adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-304Consent to adoption -- stepparent's spouse
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-305Repealed
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-306through 42-4-308 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-309Preplacement and postplacement evaluation period -- waiver
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-310Petition for adoption -- notice -- hearing
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-311Legal consequences of adoption of stepchild
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-312Arrearages of child support
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-401Adoption of adult
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-402Who may adopt adult or emancipated minor
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-403Consent to adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-404Jurisdiction and venue
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-4-405Procedure
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-101Petition for adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-102Time for action on petition for adoption -- waiver
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-103Notice of hearing1 cite
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-104Content of notice
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-105Hearing on petition for adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-106Granting petition for adoption -- denial of petition
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-107Best interests of child
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-108Removal of child from state
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-109Decree of adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-201Communication of decree to department
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-202Effect of decree
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-203Finality of decree -- expediency
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-204Rights of adoptee
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-205Foreign adoption decrees
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-5-301Visitation and communication agreements
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-101Confidentiality of records and proceedings
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-102Disclosure of records -- nonidentifying and identifying information -- consensual release
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-103Petition for appointment of confidential intermediary
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-104Appointment of confidential intermediary -- duties -- payment
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-105Disclosure authorized in course of employment
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-106through 42-6-108 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-6-109Release of original birth certificate -- certificate of adoption
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-101Fees related to placement for adoption by parent
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-102Limitations on payment of certain fees
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-103and 42-7-104 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-105Prohibited activities -- violations -- penalties
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-106Action by department
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-201Definitions
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-202Discriminatory acts prohibited in adoption or foster care services
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-203Remedies -- statute of limitations
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-7-204Construction
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-101Renumbered 52-8-101
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-102Renumbered 52-8-102
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-103Renumbered 52-8-103
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-104Renumbered 52-8-104
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-105and 42-8-106 reserved
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-107Renumbered 52-8-107
• Mont. Code Ann. § 42-8-108Renumbered 52-8-108