Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 26 Domestic Relations - Chapter 26.33 Adoption

26.33.010 Intent
The legislature finds that the purpose of adoption is to provide stable homes for children. Adoptions should be handled efficiently, but the rights of all ...

26.33.020 Definitions
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Alleged father" means a person whose parent-child relationship has ...

26.33.030 Petitions -- Place of filing -- Consolidation of petitions and hearings
(1) A petition under this chapter may be filed in the superior court of the county in which the petitioner is a resident or of ...

26.33.040 Petitions -- Application of Indian child welfare act -- Requirements -- Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act statement and findings
(1)(a) Every petition filed in proceedings under this chapter shall contain a statement alleging whether the child is or may be an Indian child as ...

26.33.045 Delay or denial of adoption on basis of race, color, or national origin prohibited -- Consideration in placement -- Exception -- Training
(1) An adoption shall not be delayed or denied on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or the ...

26.33.050 Validity of consents, relinquishments, or orders of termination from other jurisdictions -- Burden of proof
Any consent, relinquishment, or order of termination that would be valid in the jurisdiction in which it was executed or obtained, and which comports with ...

26.33.060 Hearings -- Procedure -- Witnesses
All hearings under this chapter shall be heard by the court without a jury. Unless the parties and the court agree otherwise, proceedings of contested ...

26.33.070 Appointment of guardian ad litem -- When required -- Payment of fees
(1) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for any parent or alleged father under eighteen years of age in any proceeding under this ...

26.33.080 Petition for relinquishment -- Filing -- Written consent required
(1) A parent, an alleged father, the department, or an agency may file with the court a petition to relinquish a child to the department ...

26.33.090 Petition for relinquishment -- Hearing -- Temporary custody order -- Notice -- Order of relinquishment
(1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for relinquishment. The hearing may not be held sooner than ...

26.33.100 Petition for termination -- Who may file -- Contents -- Time
(1) A petition for termination of the parent-child relationship of a parent or alleged father who has not executed a written consent to adoption may ...

26.33.110 Petition for termination -- Time and place of hearing -- Notice of hearing and petition -- Contents
(1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for termination of the parent-child relationship, which shall not be ...

26.33.120 Termination -- Grounds -- Failure to appear
(1) Except in the case of an Indian child and his or her parent, the parent-child relationship of a parent may be terminated upon a ...

26.33.130 Termination order -- Effect
(1) If the court determines, after a hearing, that the parent-child relationship should be terminated pursuant to RCW 26.33.090 or 26.33.120, the court shall enter ...

26.33.140 Who may adopt or be adopted
(1) Any person may be adopted, regardless of his or her age or residence. (2) Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen ...

26.33.150 Petition for adoption--Filing--Contents--Preplacement report required
(1) An adoption proceeding is initiated by filing with the court a petition for adoption. The petition shall be filed by the prospective adoptive parent. ...

26.33.160 Consent to adoption -- When revocable -- Procedure
(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.33.170, consent to an adoption shall be required of the following if applicable: (a) The adoptee, if fourteen ...

26.33.170 Consent to adoption--When not required
(1) An agency's, the department's, or a legal guardian's consent to adoption may be dispensed with if the court determines by clear, cogent and convincing ...

26.33.180 Preplacement report required before placement with adoptive parents -- Exception
Except as provided in RCW 26.33.220, a child shall not be placed with prospective adoptive parents until a preplacement report has been filed with the ...

26.33.190 Preplacement report -- Requirements -- Fees
(1) Any person may at any time request an agency, the department, an individual approved by the court, or a qualified salaried court employee to ...

26.33.200 Post-placement report--Requirements--Exception--Fees
(1) Except as provided in RCW 26.33.220, at the time the petition for adoption is filed, the court shall order a post-placement report made to ...

26.33.210 Preplacement or post-placement report -- Department or agency may make report
The department or an agency having the custody of a child may make the preplacement or post-placement report on a petitioner for the adoption of ...

26.33.220 Preplacement and post-placement reports -- When not required
Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the reports required by RCW 26.33.190 are not required if the petitioner seeks to adopt the child of the ...

26.33.230 Notice of proceedings at which preplacement reports considered -- Contents -- Proof of service -- Appearance -- Waiver
The petitioner shall give not less than three days written notice of any proceeding at which a preplacement report will be considered to all agencies, ...

26.33.240 Petition for adoption -- Hearing -- Notice -- Disposition
(1) After the reports required by RCW 26.33.190 and 26.33.200 have been filed, the court shall schedule a hearing on the petition for adoption upon ...

26.33.250 Decree of adoption -- Determination of place and date of birth
(1) A decree of adoption shall provide, as a minimum, the following information: (a) The full original name of the person to be adopted; (b) ...

26.33.260 Decree of adoption -- Effect -- Accelerated appeal -- Limited grounds to challenge -- Intent
(1) The entry of a decree of adoption divests any parent or alleged father who is not married to the adoptive parent or who has ...

26.33.270 Decree of adoption -- Protection of certain rights and benefits
An order or decree entered under this chapter shall not disentitle a child to any benefit due the child from any third person, agency, state, ...

26.33.280 Decree of adoption -- Transmittal to state registrar of vital statistics
After a decree of adoption is entered, as soon as the time for appeal has expired, or if an appeal is taken, and the adoption ...

26.33.290 Decree of adoption -- Duties of state registrar of vital statistics
Upon receipt of a decree of adoption, the state registrar of vital statistics shall: (1) Return the decree to the court clerk if all information ...

26.33.295 Open adoption agreements -- Agreed orders -- Enforcement
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the parties to a proceeding under this chapter from entering into agreements regarding communication with ...

26.33.300 Adoption statistical data
The department of health shall be a depository for statistical data concerning adoption. It shall furnish to the clerk of each county a data card ...

26.33.310 Notice -- Requirements -- Waiver
(1) Petitions governed by this chapter shall be served in the manner as set forth in the superior court civil rules. Subsequent notice, papers, and ...

26.33.320 Adoption of hard to place children -- Court's consideration of state's agreement with prospective adoptive parents
(1) In deciding whether to grant a petition for adoption of a hard to place child and in reviewing any request for the vacation or ...

26.33.330 Records sealed -- Inspection -- Fee
(1) All records of any proceeding under this chapter shall be sealed and shall not be thereafter open to inspection by any person except upon ...

26.33.340 Department, agency, and court files confidential -- Limited disclosure of information
Department, agency, and court files regarding an adoption shall be confidential except that reasonably available nonidentifying information may be disclosed upon the written request for ...

26.33.343 Search for birth parent or adopted child -- Confidential intermediary
(1) An adopted person over the age of twenty-one years, or under twenty-one with the permission of the adoptive parent, or a birth parent or ...

26.33.345 Search for birth parent or adopted child -- Limited release of information--Noncertified copies of original birth certificate
(1) The department of social and health services, adoption agencies, and independent adoption facilitators shall release the name and location of the court where a ...

26.33.347 Consent or refusal to release adoptee's identifying information--Desire to be contacted--Certified statement
(1) An adopted person over the age of eighteen may file with the department of health a certified statement declaring any one or more of ...

26.33.350 Medical reports -- Requirements
(1) Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to ...

26.33.360 Petition by natural parent to set aside adoption -- Costs -- Time limit
(1) If a natural parent unsuccessfully petitions to have an adoption set aside, the court shall award costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to the adoptive ...

26.33.370 Permanent care and custody of a child -- Assumption, relinquishment, or transfer except by court order or statute, when prohibited -- Penalty
(1) Unless otherwise permitted by court order or statute, it is unlawful for any person, partnership, society, association, or corporation, except the parents, to assume ...

26.33.380 Family and social history report required -- Identity of birth parents confidential
(1) Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to ...

26.33.385 Standards for locating records and information -- Rules
The department shall adopt rules, in consultation with affected parties, establishing minimum standards for making reasonable efforts to locate records and information relating to adoptions ...

26.33.390 Information on adoption-related services
(1) All persons adopting a child through the department shall receive written information on the department's adoption-related services including, but not limited to, adoption support, ...

26.33.400 Advertisements--Prohibitions--Exceptions--Application of consumer protection act
(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "advertisement" means communication by newspaper, radio, television, handbills, placards or other print, broadcast, or the electronic medium. This ...

26.33.900 Effective date -- Application -- 1984 c 155
This act shall take effect January 1, 1985. Any proceeding initiated before January 1, 1985, shall be governed by the law in effect on the ...

26.33.901 Severability -- 1984 c 155
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...