South Carolina Adoption Act

South Carolina · South Carolina Children's Code · §§ 63-9-10 to 63-9-920 · 32 sections

Overview

The Adoption Act governs the legal process by which a child or adult becomes the child of persons who are not their biological parents, setting out who must consent to an adoption, how consents and surrenders of parental rights are executed and when they become irrevocable, and how a court reviews a petition and enters judgment. It establishes procedural machinery around those steps — a registry through which a putative father may preserve his right to notice, notice requirements, interim and standby orders, and a standard directing courts to treat the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration. It also creates a confidentiality regime for adoption records, together with a state registry and intermediary system through which adoptees, birth parents, and other eligible parties may exchange identifying information, medical and mental health histories, and obtain access to original birth records, and it provides for post-placement and post-adoption support services.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.

In the courts

Sections of this act have been cited in 30 court decisions.

Most-cited authority: 402 SC 311 - Youngblood v. South Carolina Department of Social Services

Sections covered

S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-10Short title1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1110Adoption by stepparent or relative
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-1120Adult adoption
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-20Legislative purpose3 cites
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-30Definitions1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-310Persons who must give consent or relinquishment7 cites
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-320Persons not required to give consent or relinquishment
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-330Form and content of consent and relinquishment3 cites
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-340Signing consent and relinquishment1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-350Withdrawal of consent or relinquishment1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-360Consent and relinquishment certification
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-370Adoption of a child in the custody of the Department of Social Services
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-40Jurisdiction; venue1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-50Children who may be adopted
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-510Temporary placement and custody of adoptee
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-520Investigations and reports1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-60Persons who may adopt5 cites
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-70Advertising prohibited to place or accept child for adoption; exception; penalties
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-710Petition for adoption; use of fictitious names1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-720Appointment of guardian ad litem
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-730Notice of adoption proceedings1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-740Itemized accounting of disbursements
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-750Final hearing2 cites
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-760Effect of final decree
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-770Attacks on final orders; appeals1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-780Confidentiality of hearings and records
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-790Amended birth certificates
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-80Biological parent medical history; disclosure to prospective adoptive parent and adoptee
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-810State interest; purpose of registry1 cite
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-820Registry established; definitions; claims of paternity; promulgation of regulations; unauthorized use
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-910Foreign adoptions
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-9-920Effect of foreign decrees of adoption

Enacted in other states

Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania

All South Carolina named statutes →

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