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Connecticut Law About Adoption

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See Also Probate Law, Name Changes

Research Guides and Information

  

Connecticut Public Acts

Research guides prepared by the Connecticut Judicial Branch law librarians:

  • Adoption in Connecticut 

  • Termination of Parental Rights in Connecticut

Connecticut Probate Court Administrator:

  • Probate Court User Guide: Termination of Parental Rights and Adoptions

Connecticut Department of Children and Families:

  • Connecticut Foster Care and Adoption Services

OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

  • Cooperative Postadoption Agreements - 2017-R-0163

  • Identified Adoptions - 2015-R-0286

  • Private Child Placing Agencies - 2015-R-0226

  • Summary of HB 5144 (Public Act No.14-133) - 2014-R-0070

  • Access to Information in Birth Certificates - 2014-R-0030

  • Co-Parent Adoption and Home Study - 2013-R-0088

  • Adoptions by Foster Parents - 2012-R-0506

  • Adoption and Foster Care: Statistics and Recent Legislation - 2006-R-0684

  • Questions about Foster Care and Adoption - 2006-R-0651

  • Grandparents' Rights - 2005-R-0832

  • State-by-State Comparison of Adoption and Foster Care Costs - 2005-R-0810

  • Number of State-Sponsored Adoptions per Year - 2005-R-0740

  • Legal Risk Adoptions - 2005-R-0355

  • Adoption: Birth Mother's Rights to Revoke Consent - 2004-R-0661

  • Adoption Subsidies - 2004-R-0008

Useful Websites
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau Laws and Policies
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau - Focus Areas - Adoption
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau - Focus Areas - Foster Care
  • U.S. Department of State Intercountry Adoption
  • United Nations UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child

Library Materials

The Judicial Branch law libraries hold a number of items which may be of help to the person researching adoption law. The Subject Headings below are recommended, and can be entered as subject searches using our online catalog , or Contact us f or availability of materials.

  • Adoption --Connecticut --Handbooks, manuals, etc.
  • Adoption --Law and legislation --United States.
  • Intercountry adoption --Law and legislation --United States --Popular works.
     

     
 

  • P.A. 21-15 - An Act Concerning Adoption and Implementation of the Connecticut Parentage Act. (Effective January 1, 2022, sections 38 and 39 effective July 1, 2022.) OLR Bill Summary

    • " It obviates the need to go through the lengthy, complex, and often costly adoption process in order to provide stability and resources for a child in a same-sex relationship." Connecticut Legislative History, Senate Proceedings, 2021 Sess., May 20, 2021, p. 159

  • P.A. 14-133 - An Act Concerning Access to Birth Certificates and Parental Health Information for Adopted Persons OLR Bill Summary

Connecticut General Statutes

Selected statutes:

Chapter 14. Freedom of Information Act

  • Sec. 1-210 (b)(14). Access to public records. Exempt records.

TITLE 45a. (Most of Chapter 803 i s relevant. Selected sections linked below)

  • Sec. 45a-706 . Rules of construction.

  • Sec. 45a-707 . Definitions.

  • Sec. 45a-715 . Petition to terminate parental rights. Cooperative postadoption agreements.

  • Sec. 45a-717 . Termination of parental rights. Conduct of hearing. Investigation and report. Grounds for termination.

  • Sec. 45a-719 . Reopening judgment terminating parental rights. Best interest of child. Final decree of adoption.

  • Sec. 45a-724 . Who may give child in adoption.

  • Sec. 45a-725 . When child free for adoption.

  • Sec. 45a-726b . Recruitment of minority families not to delay placement of adoptive child.

  • Sec. 45a-727 . Application and agreement for adoption. Investigation, report. Adoptive parents entitled to receive copy of records and other information re history of child. Assessment of fees. Hearing and decree.

  • Sec. 45a-727a . Legislative findings re best interests of child.

  • Sec. 45a-730 . Validation of foreign adoption. Petition filed in Probate Court.

  • Sec. 45a-733. Procedure on application for adoption by stepparent or person who shares parental responsibility with the parent of a child.

  • Sec. 45a-734 . Adoption of adults. Inheritance.

  • Sec. 45a-745 . Adoption record.

  • Sec. 45a-746 . Information available to adoptive parents and adult adopted or adoptable person.

  • Sec. 45a-749 . Request for information.

  • Sec. 45a-750 . Identifying information.

  • Sec. 45a-751b . Disclosure of identifying information. Consent required. Exception.

Chapter 815t. Juvenile Matters

  • Sec. 46b-129b . Filing of petition for adoption and written agreement of adoption by Commissioner of Children and Families. Review of adoption social study and other reports. Hearing. Adoptive parents entitled to receive copies of records and other information re history of child. Applicability of probate court provisions.

FSM Decisions

  • Family Support Magistrate Decisions - (Case Law - Written Decisions of the Family Support Magistrates)

Official Connecticut Probate Court Forms

  • Official Probate Court Forms

Probate Court Locations

  • Probate Court Directory (Court Locations)


Connecticut Law by Subject