Page 1 of 77 CHOCTAW NATION ADOPTION CODE Article 1. Policy and General Definitions .................................................................................................. 5 Section 1-1.1. Short Title--Composition of Code ....................................................................... 5 Section 1-1.2…………………………………………………………………………………….5 Section 1-1.3. Definitions............................................................................................................ 6 Article 2. Jurisdiction, Venue and Choice of Law ................................................................................... 8 Section 2-1.1. Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................... 8 Section 2-1.2. Venue ................................................................................................................... 9 Section 2-1.3 Jurisdiction ............................................................................................................ 9 Section 2-1.4 Adoptions Issued by Foreign Countries, States, or Other Tribes ....................................... 9 Article 3. Adoption of Minors .................................................................................................................... 9 Section 3-1.1 Eligibility to Adopt……………………………………………………………..10 Section 3-1.2. Written Adoption Full-Disclosure Statement - Signatures…………………….10 Section 3-2.1. Who May Consent ............................................................................................. 12 Section 3-2.2. When Consent May be Given ............................................................................ 13 Section 3-2.3. Permanent Relinquishments............................................................................... 14 Section 3-2.4. Contents of Consent to Adoption ....................................................................... 17 Section 3-2.5. Acknowledgment of Consent to Adoption or Permanent Relinquishment before Judge - Affidavit of Nondisclosure……………………………………………………………19 Section 3-2.6. Extrajudicial Consent ......................................................................................... 20 Section 3-2.7. Setting Aside Permanent Relinquishment or Consent to Adoption ................... 21 Section 3-3.1. Notice of Plan for Adoption ............................................................................... 22 Section 3-3.2. Notice of Filing of Paternity Action by Putative Father .................................... 25 Section 3-4.1. Temporary Orders of Custody ........................................................................... 25 Article 4. Medical and Social Histories .................................................................................................. 26 Section 4-1.1. Medical and Social History Report ................................................................................. 26 Section 4-1.2. Disclosure ....................................................................................................................... 30 Article 5. Adoption Proceedings ............................................................................................................. 33 Section 5-1.1. Confidential Character of Hearings and Records – Release – Exceptions - Misdemeanor…………………………………………………………………………………..33 Section 5-1.2. Appointment of Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem…………………………….34 Section 5-1.3. Court Clerk or Deputy May Affix Signature of Judge to Order and Notice of Hearing.………………………………………………………………………………………..35 Page 2 of 77 Section 5-1.4. Priority on docket--Proceedings to be Expedited……………………………...35 Section 5-1.5. Visitation Agreements Between Child, Adoptive Parents and Birth Relative………………………………………………………………………………………..35 Section 5-2.1. Pre-Adoption Termination of Parental Rights ................................................... 36 Section 5-3.1. Contents ............................................................................................................. 39 Section 5-3.2. Costs, Funds, or Monies Expended by Adoptive Family – Disclosure………. 40 Section 5-4.1. Application – Notice – Hearing – Order - Appeal ............................................. 43 Section 5-4.2. Exceptions to Requirement of Parental Consent ............................................... 46 Section 5-4.3. Inquiry to Identify Unknown or Putative Father................................................ 49 Section 5-5.1. Favorable Pre-Placement Home Study Required – Waiver – Exception - Placement Not Approved in Certain Circumstances ..............………………………………...50 Section 5-5.2. Subsequent Home Study - Waiver ..................................................................... 50 Section 5-5.3. Contents of Home Study .................................................................................... 51 Section 5-5.4. Persons or Agencies Authorized to Conduct Home Studies .............................. 52 Section 5-6.1. Interlocutory Decree .......................................................................................... 53 Section 5-6.2. Filings Required Prior to Final Hearing............................................................. 54 Section 5-6.3. Application for Final Decree - Waiver of Interlocutory Decree and Waiting Period--Notice of Hearing – Appearance - Entry of Final Decree…………………………….55 Section 5-6.4. Denial of Petition for Adoption ......................................................................... 56 Section 5-6.5. Effect of Final Decree--Grandparental Rights ................................................... 56 Section 5-6.6. Certificate of adoption--Supplementary birth certificate--Sealed records - Disclosure of original records…………………………………………………………………57 Section 5-7.1. Appeals .............................................................................................................. 57 Section 5-7.2. Limitations on Challenge to Adoption or Termination of Parental Rights - Effect of Appeal - Best Interests of Child...…………………………………………………...58 Section 5-8.1. Adoption Dissolution Statistics to be Published ................................................ 58 Article 6. Paternity Registry ................................................................................................................... 59 Section 6-1.1. Paternity Registry ........................................................................................................... 59 Section 6-1.2. Revocation of Notice of Intent to Claim Paternity - Removal of Registrant’s Name from Registry .................................................................................................................................................. 61 Article 7. Adult Adoptions ...................................................................................................................... 62 Section 7-1.1. Adult Adoptions ................................................................................................. 62 Article 8. Records Retention ................................................................................................................... 62 Section 8-1.1. Records retention ............................................................................................... 62 Article 9. General Provisions .................................................................................................................. 62 Section 9-1.1. Conditions for Discharges of Infants from Medical Facilities........................... 62 Page 3 of 77 Section 9-1.2. Confidential Index of Birth and Adoptive Names ............................................. 63 Article 10. Adoption Exchange ............................................................................................................... 63 Section 10-1.1. Department of Children and Family Services to Contract or Join with Adoption Exchange - Information to be Provided - Definitions ............................................................... 63 Section 10-1.2. Photograph and Description of Child to be Provided to Exchange ................. 63 Section 10-1.3. Exemptions ...................................................................................................... 63 Section 10-1.4. Change in Status of Child Listed by Exchange ............................................... 64 Section 10-2.5. Withdrawal of Child from Register ................................................................. 64 Article 11. Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children ............................................................ 64 Section 11-1.1 Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children ............................................ 64 Article I. Purpose…………………………………………………………………………….......64 Article II. Definitions…………………………………………………………………………….65 Article III. Applicability.………………………………………………………………………,..67 Article IV. Jurisdiction....………………………………………………………………………..69 Article V. Placement Evaluation………………………………………………………………...70 Article VI. Placement Authority.………………………………………………………………...71 Article VII. Placing Agency Responsibility.…………………………………………………….71 Article VIII. Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children…………………………….73 Article IX. Powers and Duties of the Interstate Commission…..………………………………..73 Article X. Organization and Operation and Operation of the Interstate Commission.……..……73 Article XI. Rulemaking Functions of the Interstate Commission.……………………………….73 Article XII. Oversight, Dispute Resolution, Enforcement…..…………………………………...73 Article XIII.