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Public Act 099-0833 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning regulation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by | ||||
changing Sections 2.08, 2.17, 2.23, 2.25, 7.4, and 7.6 and by | ||||
adding Sections 3.2 and 3.3 as follows:
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(225 ILCS 10/2.08) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.08)
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Sec. 2.08.
"Child welfare agency" means a public or private | ||||
child care facility,
receiving any child or children for the | ||||
purpose of placing or arranging for
the placement or free care | ||||
of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed | ||||
pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, adoption-only homes, or other
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facilities for child care, apart from the custody of the | ||||
child's or
children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" | ||||
includes all agencies
established and maintained by a | ||||
municipality or other political subdivision
of the State of | ||||
Illinois to protect, guard, train or care for children
outside | ||||
their own homes and all agencies, persons, groups of persons, | ||||
associations, organizations, corporations, institutions, | ||||
centers, or groups providing adoption services, but does not | ||||
include any circuit court or duly
appointed juvenile probation | ||||
officer or youth counselor of the court who
receives and places | ||||
children under an order of the court.
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(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)
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(225 ILCS 10/2.17) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.17)
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Sec. 2.17.
"Foster family home" means a facility for child | ||
care in
residences of families who receive no more than 8 | ||
children unrelated to them,
unless all the children are of | ||
common parentage, or residences of relatives who
receive no | ||
more than 8 related children placed by the Department, unless | ||
the
children are of common parentage, for the purpose of | ||
providing family care and
training for the children on a | ||
full-time basis, except the Director of Children
and Family | ||
Services, pursuant to Department regulations, may waive the | ||
limit of
8 children unrelated to an adoptive family for good | ||
cause and only to
facilitate an adoptive placement. The | ||
family's or relative's own children,
under 18 years of age, | ||
shall be included in determining the
maximum number of children | ||
served. For purposes of this Section, a "relative"
includes any | ||
person, 21 years of age or over, other than the parent, who (i) | ||
is
currently related to the child in any of the following ways | ||
by blood or
adoption: grandparent, sibling, great-grandparent, | ||
uncle, aunt, nephew, niece,
first cousin, great-uncle, or | ||
great-aunt; or (ii) is the spouse of such a
relative; or (iii) | ||
is a child's step-father, step-mother, or adult step-brother
or | ||
step-sister; or (iv) is a fictive kin; "relative" also includes | ||
a person related in any of the
foregoing ways to a sibling of a | ||
child, even though the person is not related
to the child, when |
the child and its sibling are placed together with that
person. | ||
For purposes of placement of children pursuant to Section 7 of | ||
the Children and Family Services Act and for purposes of | ||
licensing requirements set forth in Section 4 of this Act, for | ||
children under the custody or guardianship of the Department | ||
pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, after a parent | ||
signs a consent, surrender, or waiver or after a parent's | ||
rights are otherwise terminated, and while the child remains in | ||
the custody or guardianship of the Department, the child is | ||
considered to be related to those to whom the child was related | ||
under this Section prior to the signing of the consent, | ||
surrender, or waiver or the order of termination of parental | ||
rights. The term "foster family home" includes homes receiving | ||
children from
any State-operated institution for child care; or | ||
from any agency established
by a municipality or other | ||
political subdivision of the State of Illinois
authorized to | ||
provide care for children outside their own homes. The term
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"foster family home" does not include an "adoption-only home" | ||
as defined in
Section 2.23 of this Act. The types of
foster | ||
family homes are defined as follows:
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(a) "Boarding home" means a foster family home which | ||
receives payment
for regular full-time care of a child or | ||
children.
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(b) "Free home" means a foster family home other than | ||
an adoptive home
which does not receive payments for the | ||
care of a child or children.
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(c) "Adoptive home" means a foster family home which | ||
receives a child or
children for the purpose of adopting | ||
the child or children , but does not include an | ||
adoption-only home .
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(d) "Work-wage home" means a foster family home which | ||
receives a child
or children who pay part or all of their | ||
board by rendering some services
to the family not | ||
prohibited by the Child Labor Law or by standards or
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regulations of the Department prescribed under this Act. | ||
The child or
children may receive a wage in connection with | ||
the services rendered the
foster family.
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(e) "Agency-supervised home" means a foster family | ||
home under the direct
and regular supervision of a licensed | ||
child welfare agency, of the
Department of Children and | ||
Family Services, of a circuit court, or of any
other State | ||
agency which has authority to place children in child care
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facilities, and which receives no more than 8 children, | ||
unless of common
parentage, who are placed and are | ||
regularly supervised by one of the
specified agencies.
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(f) "Independent home" means a foster family home, | ||
other than an
adoptive home, which receives no more than 4 | ||
children, unless of common
parentage, directly from | ||
parents, or other legally responsible persons, by
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independent arrangement and which is not subject to direct | ||
and regular
supervision of a specified agency except as | ||
such supervision pertains to
licensing by the Department.
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(Source: P.A. 98-804, eff. 1-1-15; 98-846, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, | ||
eff. 7-20-15.)
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(225 ILCS 10/2.23)
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Sec. 2.23.
"Adoption-only home" means a home that receives | ||
a child placed by an Illinois licensed child welfare agency | ||
providing adoption services for the sole purpose of adoption. | ||
The child shall not be under the custody or guardianship of the | ||
Department pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Such | ||
adoption-only home shall not be required to be licensed as a | ||
child care facility under this Act, but shall be required to | ||
meet the requirements set forth in Section 3.2 of this Act | ||
family home that
receives only children
whose parents' parental | ||
rights have been terminated or surrendered for the
purpose of | ||
adoption only .
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(Source: P.A. 92-318, eff. 1-1-02.)
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(225 ILCS 10/2.25)
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Sec. 2.25. "Unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive home" | ||
means any home that is not licensed by the Department as a | ||
foster family home and that receives a child or children for | ||
the purpose of adopting the child or children , but does not | ||
include an adoption-only home .
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(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.) | ||
(225 ILCS 10/3.2 new) |
Sec. 3.2. Requirements for adoption-only homes. In | ||
addition to the other requirements contained in this Act, in | ||
order to approve an adoption-only home, a licensed child | ||
welfare agency shall: | ||
(1) conduct a home study, which shall consist of a | ||
thorough assessment of any prospective adoptive parent's | ||
physical, mental, financial, and emotional ability to | ||
successfully parent a child through adoption; | ||
(2) obtain a criminal background check of all adult | ||
residents in the home pursuant to Section 3.3 of this Act; | ||
(3) obtain child abuse background checks of all | ||
residents in the home who are 13 years of age or over; | ||
(4) assess the health of all prospective adoptive | ||
parents and family members living in the home, as well as | ||
any residents of the home; | ||
(5) assess the finances of the prospective adoptive | ||
parent or parents; | ||
(6) obtain character references for the prospective | ||
adoptive parent or parents; | ||
(7) assess the safety of the adoptive home; | ||
(8) provide adoption education and training to the | ||
prospective adoptive parent or parents; and | ||
(9) conduct a pre-placement home visit and | ||
post-placement supervision. | ||
The licensed child welfare agency may impose any other | ||
reasonable requirements that the agency deems appropriate in |
approving an adoption-only home. The Department shall adopt | ||
procedures necessary for the implementation of this Section no | ||
later than 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory | ||
Act of the 99th General Assembly. | ||
(225 ILCS 10/3.3 new) | ||
Sec. 3.3. Requirements for criminal background checks for | ||
adoption-only homes. In approving an adoption-only home | ||
pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Act, if an adult resident has | ||
an arrest or conviction record, the licensed child welfare | ||
agency: | ||
(1) shall thoroughly investigate and evaluate the | ||
criminal history of the resident and, in so doing, include | ||
an assessment of the applicant's character and, in the case | ||
of the prospective adoptive parent, the impact that the | ||
criminal history has on his or her ability to parent the | ||
child; the investigation should consider the type of crime, | ||
the number of crimes, the nature of the offense, the age at | ||
time of crime, the length of time that has elapsed since | ||
the last conviction, the relationship of the crime to the | ||
ability to care for children, and any evidence of | ||
rehabilitation; | ||
(2) shall not approve the home if the record reveals a | ||
felony conviction for crimes against a child, including, | ||
but not limited to, child abuse or neglect, child | ||
pornography, rape, sexual assault, or homicide; |
(3) shall not approve the home if the record reveals a | ||
felony conviction within the last 5 years, including, but | ||
not limited to, for physical assault, battery, | ||
drug-related offenses, or spousal abuse; and | ||
(4) shall not approve the home if the record reveals a | ||
felony conviction for homicide, rape, or sexual assault. | ||
(225 ILCS 10/7.4) | ||
Sec. 7.4. Disclosures.
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(a) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption | ||
services and licensed by the Department shall provide to all | ||
prospective clients and to the public written disclosures with | ||
respect to its adoption services, policies, and practices, | ||
including general eligibility criteria, fees, and the mutual | ||
rights and responsibilities of clients, including biological | ||
parents and adoptive parents. The written disclosure shall be | ||
posted on any website maintained by the child welfare agency | ||
that relates to adoption services. The Department shall adopt | ||
rules relating to the contents of the written disclosures. | ||
Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this subsection | ||
(a). | ||
(b) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption | ||
services shall provide to all applicants, prior to application, | ||
a written schedule of estimated fees, expenses, and refund | ||
policies. Every child welfare agency providing adoption | ||
services shall have a written policy that shall be part of its |
standard adoption contract and state that it will not charge | ||
additional fees and expenses beyond those disclosed in the | ||
adoption contract unless additional fees are reasonably | ||
required by the circumstances and are disclosed to the adoptive | ||
parents or parent before they are incurred. The Department | ||
shall adopt rules relating to the contents of the written | ||
schedule and policy. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant | ||
with this subsection (b). | ||
(c) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption | ||
services must make full and fair disclosure to its clients, | ||
including biological parents and adoptive parents, of all | ||
circumstances material to the placement of a child for | ||
adoption. The Department shall adopt rules necessary for the | ||
implementation and regulation of the requirements of this | ||
subsection (c). | ||
(c-5) Whenever a licensed child welfare agency places a | ||
child in a licensed foster family home or an adoption-only | ||
home , the agency shall provide the following to the caretaker | ||
or prospective adoptive parent : | ||
(1) Available detailed information concerning the | ||
child's educational
and health history, copies of | ||
immunization records (including insurance
and medical card | ||
information), a history of the child's previous | ||
placements,
if any, and reasons for placement changes, | ||
excluding any information that
identifies or reveals the | ||
location of any previous caretaker. |
(2) A copy of the child's portion of the client service | ||
plan, including
any visitation arrangement, and all | ||
amendments or revisions to it as
related to the child. | ||
(3) Information containing details of the child's | ||
individualized
educational plan when the child is | ||
receiving special education services. | ||
(4) Any known social or behavioral
information | ||
(including, but not limited to, criminal background, fire
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setting, perpetration of
sexual abuse, destructive | ||
behavior, and substance abuse) necessary to care
for and | ||
safeguard the child.
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The agency may prepare a written summary of the information | ||
required by this subsection, which may be provided to the | ||
foster or prospective adoptive parent in advance of a | ||
placement. The foster or prospective adoptive parent may review | ||
the supporting documents in the child's file in the presence of | ||
casework staff. In the case of an emergency placement, casework | ||
staff shall at least provide information verbally, if | ||
necessary, and must subsequently provide the information in | ||
writing as required by this subsection. In the case of | ||
emergency placements when time does not allow prior review, | ||
preparation, and collection of written information, the agency | ||
shall provide such information as it becomes available.
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The Department shall adopt rules necessary for the | ||
implementation and regulation of the requirements of this | ||
subsection (c-5).
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(d) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption | ||
services shall meet minimum standards set forth by the | ||
Department concerning the taking or acknowledging of a consent | ||
prior to taking or acknowledging a consent from a prospective | ||
biological parent. The Department shall adopt rules concerning | ||
the minimum standards required by agencies under this Section.
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(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05; 94-1010, eff. 10-1-06.) | ||
(225 ILCS 10/7.6) | ||
Sec. 7.6. Annual report. Every licensed child welfare | ||
agency providing adoption services shall file an annual report | ||
with the Department and with the Attorney General on forms and | ||
on a date prescribed by the Department. The annual reports for | ||
the preceding 2 years must be made available, upon request, to | ||
the public by the Department and every licensed agency and must | ||
be included on the website of the Department. Each licensed | ||
agency that maintains a website shall provide the reports on | ||
its website. The annual report shall include all of the | ||
following matters and all other matters required by the | ||
Department: | ||
(1) a balance sheet and a statement of income and | ||
expenses for the year, certified by an independent public | ||
accountant; for purposes of this item (1), the audit report | ||
filed by an agency with the Department may be included in | ||
the annual report and, if so, shall be sufficient to comply | ||
with the requirement of this item (1); |
(2) non-identifying information concerning the | ||
placements made by the agency during the year, consisting | ||
of the number of adoptive families in the process of | ||
obtaining approval for an adoption-only home a foster | ||
family license , the number of adoptive families that are | ||
approved licensed and awaiting placement, the number of | ||
biological parents that the agency is actively working | ||
with, the number of placements, and the number of adoptions | ||
initiated during the year and the status of each matter at | ||
the end of the year; | ||
(3) any instance during the year in which the agency | ||
lost the right to provide adoption services in any State or | ||
country, had its license suspended for cause, or was the | ||
subject of other sanctions by any court, governmental | ||
agency, or governmental regulatory body relating to the | ||
provision of adoption services; | ||
(4) any actions related to licensure that were | ||
initiated against the agency during the year by a licensing | ||
or accrediting body; | ||
(5) any pending investigations by federal or State | ||
authorities; | ||
(6) any criminal charges, child abuse charges, | ||
malpractice complaints, or lawsuits against the agency or | ||
any of its employees, officers, or directors related to the | ||
provision of adoption services and the basis or disposition | ||
of the actions; |
(7) any instance in the year where the agency was found | ||
guilty of, or pled guilty to, any criminal or civil or | ||
administrative violation under federal, State, or foreign | ||
law that relates to the provision of adoption services; | ||
(8) any instance in the year where any employee, | ||
officer, or director of the agency was found guilty of any | ||
crime or was determined to have violated a civil law or | ||
administrative rule under federal, State, or foreign law | ||
relating to the provision of adoption services; and | ||
(9) any civil or administrative proceeding instituted | ||
by the agency during the year and relating to adoption | ||
services, excluding uncontested adoption proceedings and | ||
proceedings filed pursuant to Section 12a of the Adoption | ||
Act. | ||
Failure to disclose information required under this | ||
Section may result in the suspension of the agency's license | ||
for a period of 90 days. Subsequent violations may result in | ||
revocation of the license.
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Information disclosed in accordance with this Section | ||
shall be subject to the applicable confidentiality | ||
requirements of this Act and the Adoption Act.
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(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.) | ||
Section 10. The Adoption Act is amended by changing Section | ||
10 and by adding Sections 12.2 and 12.3 as follows:
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(750 ILCS 50/10) (from Ch. 40, par. 1512)
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Sec. 10. Forms of consent and surrender; execution and
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acknowledgment thereof. | ||
A. The form of consent required for the
adoption of a born | ||
child shall be substantially as follows:
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FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE CONSENT TO ADOPTION
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I, ...., (relationship, e.g., mother, father, relative, | ||
guardian)
of ...., a ..male child, state:
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That such child was born on .... at ....
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That I reside at ...., County of .... and State of ....
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That I am of the age of .... years.
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That I hereby enter my appearance in this proceeding and | ||
waive
service of summons on me.
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That I hereby acknowledge that I have been provided with a | ||
copy of the Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private | ||
Form before signing this Consent and that I have had time to | ||
read, or have had read to me, this Form. I understand that if I | ||
do not receive any of the rights as described in this Form, it | ||
shall not constitute a basis to revoke this Final and | ||
Irrevocable Consent. | ||
That I do hereby consent and agree to the adoption of such | ||
child.
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That I wish to and understand that by signing this consent | ||
I do
irrevocably and permanently give up all custody and other | ||
parental
rights I have to such child.
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That I understand such child will be placed for adoption |
and that I
cannot under any circumstances, after signing this | ||
document, change my
mind and revoke or cancel this consent or | ||
obtain or recover custody or
any other rights over such child. | ||
That I have read and understand the
above and I am signing it | ||
as my free and voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
.........................
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If under Section 8 the consent of more than one person is | ||
required,
then each such person shall execute a separate | ||
consent.
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A-1. (1) The form of the Final and Irrevocable Consent to | ||
Adoption by a Specified Person or Persons: Non-DCFS Case set | ||
forth in this subsection A-1 is to be used by legal parents | ||
only. This form is not to be used in cases in which there is a | ||
pending petition under Section 2-13 of the Juvenile Court Act | ||
of 1987. | ||
(2) The form of the Final and Irrevocable Consent to | ||
Adoption by a Specified Person or Persons in a non-DCFS case | ||
shall have the caption of the proceeding in which it is to be | ||
filed and shall be substantially as follows: | ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE CONSENT TO ADOPTION BY | ||
A SPECIFIED PERSON OR PERSONS; NON-DCFS CASE | ||
I, ...., (relationship, e.g., mother, father) of ...., a | ||
..male child, state: | ||
1. That such child was born on ...., at ....., City of ... |
and State of .... | ||
2. That I reside at ...., County of .... and State of .... | ||
3. That I am of the age of .... years. | ||
4. That I hereby enter my appearance in this proceeding and | ||
waive service of summons on me. | ||
5. That I hereby acknowledge that I have been provided a | ||
copy of the Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private | ||
Form before signing this Consent and that I have had time to | ||
read, or have had read to me, this Form and that I understand | ||
the Rights and Responsibilities described in this Form. I | ||
understand that if I do not receive any of my rights as | ||
described in said Form, it shall not constitute a basis to | ||
revoke this Final and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption by a | ||
Specified Person. | ||
6. That I do hereby consent and agree to the adoption of | ||
such child by .... (specified persons) only. | ||
7. That I wish to and understand that upon signing this | ||
consent I do irrevocably and permanently give up all custody | ||
and other parental rights I have to such child if such child is | ||
adopted by .... (specified person or persons). I hereby | ||
transfer all of my rights to the custody, care and control of | ||
such child to ............................. (specified person | ||
or persons). | ||
8. That I understand such child will be adopted by | ||
....................... (specified person or persons) and that | ||
I cannot under any circumstances, after signing this document, |
change my mind and revoke or cancel this consent or obtain or | ||
recover custody or any other rights over such child if | ||
............................ (specified person or persons) | ||
adopt(s) such child; PROVIDED that each specified person has | ||
filed or shall file, within 60 days from the date hereof, a | ||
petition for the adoption of such child. | ||
9. That if the specified person or persons designated | ||
herein do not file a petition for adoption within the | ||
time-frame specified above, or, if said petition for adoption | ||
is filed within the time-frame specified above but the adoption | ||
petition is dismissed with prejudice or the adoption proceeding | ||
is otherwise concluded without an order declaring the child to | ||
be the adopted child of the specified person or persons, then I | ||
understand that I will receive written notice of such | ||
circumstances within 10 business days of their occurrence. I | ||
understand that the notice will be directed to me using the | ||
contact information I have provided in this consent. I | ||
understand that I will have 10 business days from the date that | ||
the written notice is sent to me to respond, within which time | ||
I may request the Court to declare this consent voidable and | ||
return the child to me. I further understand that the Court | ||
will make the final decision of whether or not the child will | ||
be returned to me. If I do not make such request within 10 | ||
business days of the date of the notice, then I expressly waive | ||
any other notice or service of process in any legal proceeding | ||
for the adoption of the child. |
10. That I expressly acknowledge that nothing in this | ||
Consent
impairs the validity and absolute finality of this
| ||
Consent under any circumstance other than those described in
| ||
paragraph 9 of this Consent. | ||
11. That I understand that I have a remaining duty and
| ||
obligation to keep .............. (insert name and address of | ||
the attorney
for the specified person or persons) informed of | ||
my current
address or other preferred contact information until | ||
this adoption has been finalized. My failure to
do so may | ||
result in the termination of my parental rights and
the child | ||
being placed for adoption in another home. | ||
12. That I do expressly waive any other notice or service | ||
of process in any of the legal proceedings for the adoption of | ||
the child as long as the adoption proceeding by the specified | ||
person or persons is pending. | ||
13. That I have read and understand the above and I am | ||
signing it as my free and voluntary act. | ||
14. That I acknowledge that this consent is valid even if | ||
the specified person or persons separate or divorce or one of | ||
the specified persons dies prior to the entry of the final | ||
judgment for adoption. | ||
Dated (insert date). | ||
............................................. | ||
Signature of parent. | ||
............................................. | ||
Address of parent. |
............................................. | ||
Phone number(s) of parent. | ||
............................................. | ||
Personal email(s) of parent. | ||
............................................. | ||
(3) The form of the certificate of acknowledgement for a | ||
Final and Irrevocable Consent for Adoption by a Specified | ||
Person or Persons: Non-DCFS Case shall be substantially as | ||
follows: | ||
STATE OF ..............)
| ||
) SS.
| ||
COUNTY OF .............) | ||
I, .................... (Name of Judge or other person), | ||
..................... (official title, name, and address), | ||
certify that ............., personally known to me to be the | ||
same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Final and | ||
Irrevocable Consent for Adoption by a Specified Person or | ||
Persons; non-DCFS case, appeared before me this day in person | ||
and acknowledged that (she)(he) signed and delivered the | ||
consent as (her)(his) free and voluntary act, for the specified | ||
purpose. I am further satisfied that, before signing this | ||
Consent, ........ has read, or has had read to him or her, the | ||
Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form. | ||
A-2. Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private | ||
Form. The Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private |
Form must be read by, or have been read to, any person | ||
executing a Final and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption under | ||
subsection A, a Final and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption by a | ||
Specified Person or Persons: Non-DCFS Case under subsection | ||
A-1, or a Consent to Adoption of Unborn Child under subsection | ||
B prior to the execution of said Consent. The form of the Birth | ||
Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form shall be | ||
substantially as follows: | ||
Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form | ||
THIS FORM DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. LEGAL ADVICE IS | ||
DEPENDENT ON THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH SITUATION AND | ||
JURISDICTION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS FORM CANNOT REPLACE THE | ||
ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY LICENSED IN YOUR STATE. | ||
As a birth parent in the State of Illinois, you have the | ||
right: | ||
1. To have your own attorney represent you. The prospective | ||
adoptive parents may agree to pay for the cost of your attorney | ||
in a manner consistent with Illinois law, but they are not | ||
required to do so. | ||
2. To be treated with dignity and respect at all times and | ||
to make decisions free from coercion and pressure. | ||
3. To request to receive counseling before and after | ||
signing a Final and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption | ||
("Consent"), a Final and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption by a | ||
Specified Person or Persons: Non-DCFS Case ("Specified | ||
Consent"), or a Consent to Adoption of Unborn Child ("Unborn |
Consent"). The prospective adoptive parents may agree to pay | ||
for the cost of counseling in a manner consistent with Illinois | ||
law, but they are not required to do so. | ||
4. To ask to be involved in choosing your child's | ||
prospective adoptive parents and to ask to meet them. | ||
5. To ask your child's prospective adoptive parents any | ||
questions that pertain to your decision to place your child | ||
with them. | ||
6. To see your child before signing a Consent or Specified | ||
Consent if you are the custodial parent, and to request to see | ||
your child if you are not the custodial parent . | ||
7. To request contact with your child and/or the child's | ||
prospective adoptive parents, with the understanding that any | ||
promises regarding contact with your child or receipt of | ||
information about the child after signing a Consent, Specified | ||
Consent, or Unborn Consent cannot be enforced under Illinois | ||
law. | ||
8. To receive copies of all documents that you sign and | ||
have those documents provided to you in your preferred | ||
language. | ||
9. To request that your identifying information remain | ||
confidential, unless required otherwise by Illinois law or | ||
court order, and to voluntarily share your medical, background, | ||
and identifying information, including information on the | ||
original birth certificate of your child. This can be done | ||
through the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information |
Exchange or through completing the Birth Parent Preference | ||
Form. Please visit http://dph.illinois.gov or | ||
www.newillinoisadoptionlaw.com register with the Illinois | ||
Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange . | ||
10. To access the Confidential Intermediary Program which | ||
provides a way for a court appointed person to connect and/or | ||
exchange information between adoptees, adoptive parents and | ||
birth parents, and other biological family members, provided in | ||
most cases that mutual consent is given. Please visit | ||
www.ci-illinois.org or call (800) 526-9022(x29). | ||
11 10 . To work with an adoption agency or attorney of your | ||
choice, or change said agency or attorney, provided you | ||
promptly inform all of the parties currently involved. | ||
12 11 . To receive, upon request, a written list of any | ||
promised support, financial or otherwise, from your attorney or | ||
the attorney for your child's prospective adoptive parents. | ||
13 12 . To delay signing a Consent, Specified Consent, or | ||
Unborn Consent if you are not ready to do so. | ||
14 13 . To decline to sign a Consent, Specified Consent, or | ||
Unborn Consent even if you have received financial support from | ||
the prospective adoptive parents. | ||
If you do not receive any of the rights described in this | ||
Form, it shall not be a basis to revoke a Consent, Specified | ||
Consent, or Unborn Consent. | ||
As a Birth Parent in the State of Illinois, you have the | ||
responsibility: |
1. To carefully consider your reasons for choosing | ||
adoption. | ||
2. To voluntarily provide all known medical, background, | ||
and family information about yourself and your immediate family | ||
to your child's prospective adoptive parents or their attorney. | ||
For the health of your child, you are strongly encouraged, but | ||
not required, to provide all known medical, background, and | ||
family history information about yourself and your family to | ||
your child's prospective adoptive parents or their attorney. | ||
2 3 . (Birth mothers only) To accurately complete an | ||
Affidavit of Identification, which identifies the father of the | ||
child when known, with the understanding that a birth mother | ||
has a right to decline to identify the birth father. | ||
3. To provide the necessary documentation regarding | ||
financial need to make an appropriate determination of | ||
reasonable pregnancy-related expenses. | ||
4. To not accept financial support or reimbursement of | ||
pregnancy related expenses simultaneously from more than one | ||
source or if you are not pregnant, as doing so is a crime . | ||
5. To voluntarily provide all known medical, background, | ||
and family information about yourself and your immediate family | ||
to your child's prospective adoptive parents or their attorney. | ||
For the health of your child, you are strongly encouraged, but | ||
not required, to do so as set forth on the following form: | ||
Birth Parent Medical Information | ||
The purpose of this form is to gather your health history, |
genetic history, and social background information to share | ||
with the adoptive parents. It is important the adoptive family | ||
provide this information to the child's physician. It will | ||
become a part of the child's medical and family history. This | ||
form, in its entirety, will be given to the adoptive parent(s). | ||
The following information is true and complete to the best | ||
of my knowledge and belief. | ||
Birth parent name: | ||
............................................................. | ||
Signature: | ||
............................................................. | ||
Date: .................................................... | ||
YES or NO (circle one) I agree to release my full name on | ||
this form to the adoptive family. If NO is circled then the | ||
birth parent's name shall be redacted on this form. | ||
MOTHER'S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: | ||
Eyes: ... Hair: .... Complexion: .... Height: .... | ||
Weight: .... Body build: .....
Race: ..... | ||
Nationality/Descent: ....... Blood type: .... Rh factor: .... | ||
Eye glasses or contact lenses? Yes /.../ No /.../ | ||
Right /.../ Left /.../ handed | ||
Age: .... or Date of birth: ..... Religion: ................. | ||
Please list your highest education level, occupation, | ||
hobbies, interests, and talents: | ||
............................................................. | ||
Existence of any disabilities? Yes /.../ No /.../ |
If yes, explain: ............................................. | ||
If you have other children, list them below. Include any | ||
children previously placed for adoption. | ||
............................................................. | ||
Describe your relationship with the birth father: ....... | ||
FATHER'S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: | ||
Eyes: ... Hair: .... Complexion: .... Height: .... | ||
Weight: .... Body build: .....
Race: ..... | ||
Nationality/Descent: ....... Blood type: .... Rh factor: .... | ||
Eye glasses or contact lenses? Yes /.../ No /.../ | ||
Right /.../ Left /.../ handed | ||
Age: .... or Date of birth: ..... Religion: ................. | ||
Please list your highest education level, occupation, | ||
hobbies, interests, and talents: | ||
............................................................. | ||
Existence of any disabilities? Yes /.../ No /.../ | ||
If yes, explain: ............................................. | ||
If you have other children, list them below. Include any | ||
children previously placed for adoption. | ||
............................................................. | ||
PREGNANCY HISTORY INVOLVING THIS CHILD | ||
Month prenatal care began during this pregnancy: ......... | ||
Complications during pregnancy: Yes... No ... If yes, | ||
explain: .................................................... | ||
............................................................. | ||
MEDICATION AND OTHER SUBSTANCES USED DURING PREGNANCY OR YEAR |
PRIOR TO PREGNANCY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In addition to this form, a birth parent shall also be | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
provided the forms for the Illinois Adoption Registry and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medical Information Exchange. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. The form of consent required for the adoption of an |
unborn child
shall be substantially as follows:
| ||
CONSENT TO ADOPTION OF UNBORN CHILD
| ||
I, ...., state:
| ||
That I am the father of a child expected to be born on or | ||
about ....
to .... (name of mother).
| ||
That I reside at .... County of ...., and State of .....
| ||
That I am of the age of .... years.
| ||
That I hereby enter my appearance in such adoption | ||
proceeding and
waive service of summons on me.
| ||
That I hereby acknowledge that I have been provided with a | ||
copy of the Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private | ||
Form before signing this Consent, and that I have had time to | ||
read, or have had read to me, this Form. I understand that if I | ||
do not receive any of the rights as described in this Form, it | ||
shall not constitute a basis to revoke this Consent to Adoption | ||
of Unborn Child. | ||
That I do hereby consent and agree to the adoption of such | ||
child, and
that I have not previously executed a consent or | ||
surrender with respect
to such child.
| ||
That I wish to and do understand that by signing this | ||
consent I do
irrevocably and permanently give up all custody | ||
and other parental
rights I have to such child, except that I | ||
have the right to revoke this
consent by giving written notice | ||
of my revocation not later than 72
hours after the birth of the | ||
child.
| ||
That I understand such child will be placed for adoption |
and that,
except as hereinabove provided, I cannot under any | ||
circumstances, after
signing this document, change my mind and | ||
revoke or cancel this consent
or obtain or recover custody or | ||
any other rights over such child.
| ||
That I have read and understand the above and I am signing | ||
it as my
free and voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
........................
| ||
B-5. (1) The parent of a child may execute a consent to | ||
standby
adoption by a specified person or persons. A consent | ||
under this subsection B-5
shall be acknowledged by a parent | ||
pursuant to subsection H and subsection K of
this Section.
The | ||
form of consent required for the standby adoption of a born | ||
child
effective at a future date when the consenting
parent of | ||
the child dies or
requests that a final judgment of adoption be | ||
entered shall be substantially as
follows:
| ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE CONSENT
| ||
TO STANDBY ADOPTION
| ||
I, ..., (relationship, e.g. mother or father)
of ...., a | ||
..male child, state:
| ||
That the child was born on .... at .....
| ||
That I reside at ...., County of ...., and State of .....
| ||
That I am of the age of .... years.
| ||
That I hereby enter my appearance in this proceeding and | ||
waive service of
summons on me in this action only.
| ||
That I do hereby consent and
agree to the standby adoption |
of the child, and that I have not previously
executed a consent | ||
or surrender with respect to the child.
| ||
That I wish to and understand that by signing this consent | ||
I do irrevocably
and permanently give up all custody and other | ||
parental rights I have to the
child, effective upon
(my death) | ||
(the child's other parent's death) or upon (my) (the other
| ||
parent's) request for the entry of a final judgment for | ||
adoption if .....
(specified person or persons) adopt my child.
| ||
That I understand that until (I die) (the child's other | ||
parent dies), I
retain all legal rights and obligations | ||
concerning the child, but at that time,
I irrevocably give all | ||
custody and other parental rights to .... (specified
person or | ||
persons).
| ||
I understand my child will be adopted by ....... (specified | ||
person or
persons) only and that I cannot, under any | ||
circumstances, after signing this
document, change my mind and | ||
revoke or cancel this consent or obtain or recover
custody or | ||
any other rights over my child if ..... (specified person or
| ||
persons) adopt my child.
| ||
I understand that this consent to standby adoption is valid | ||
only if the
petition for standby adoption is filed and that if | ||
....... (specified person or
persons), for any reason, cannot | ||
or will not file a petition for standby
adoption or if his, | ||
her, or their petition for standby adoption is denied, then
| ||
this consent is void. I have the right to notice of any other | ||
proceeding that
could affect my parental rights.
|
That I have read and understand the above and I am signing | ||
it as my free and
voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
....................
| ||
If under Section 8 the consent of more than one person is | ||
required, then each
such
person shall execute a separate | ||
consent. A separate consent shall be executed
for each
child.
| ||
(2) If the parent consents to a standby adoption by 2 | ||
specified persons,
then the form shall contain 2 additional | ||
paragraphs in substantially the
following form:
| ||
If .... (specified persons) obtain a judgment of
| ||
dissolution of
marriage before the judgment for adoption is | ||
entered, then .....
(specified person) shall adopt my child. I | ||
understand that I cannot change my
mind and revoke this consent | ||
or obtain or recover custody of my child if .....
(specified | ||
persons) obtain a judgment of dissolution of marriage and .....
| ||
(specified person) adopts my child. I understand that I cannot | ||
change my
mind and revoke this consent if ...... (specified | ||
persons) obtain a
judgment of dissolution of marriage before | ||
the adoption is final. I
understand that this consent to | ||
adoption has no effect on who will get custody
of my child if | ||
..... (specified persons) obtain a judgment of dissolution
of | ||
marriage after the adoption is final. I understand that if | ||
either .....
(specified persons) dies before the petition to | ||
adopt my child is granted, then
the surviving person may adopt |
my child. I understand that I cannot change my
mind and revoke | ||
this consent or obtain or recover custody of my child if the
| ||
surviving person adopts my child.
| ||
A consent to standby adoption by specified persons on this | ||
form shall have no
effect on a court's determination of custody | ||
or visitation under the Illinois
Marriage and Dissolution
of | ||
Marriage Act if the marriage of the specified persons is | ||
dissolved before
the adoption is final.
| ||
(3) The form of the certificate of acknowledgement for a | ||
Final and
Irrevocable Consent for Standby Adoption shall be | ||
substantially as follows:
| ||
STATE OF .....)
| ||
) SS.
| ||
COUNTY OF ....)
| ||
I, ....... (name of Judge or other person) ..... (official | ||
title,
name, and address), certify that ......., personally | ||
known to me to be
the same person whose name is subscribed to | ||
the foregoing Final and Irrevocable
Consent to Standby | ||
Adoption, appeared before me this day in person and
| ||
acknowledged that (she) (he) signed and
delivered the consent | ||
as (her) (his) free and voluntary act, for the specified
| ||
purpose.
| ||
I have fully explained that this consent to adoption is | ||
valid only if the
petition to adopt is filed, and that if the |
specified person or persons, for
any reason, cannot or will not | ||
adopt the child or if the adoption petition is
denied, then | ||
this consent will be void. I have fully explained that if the
| ||
specified person or persons adopt the child, by signing this | ||
consent (she) (he)
is irrevocably and permanently | ||
relinquishing all parental rights to the child,
and (she) (he) | ||
has stated that such is (her) (his) intention and desire.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
Signature ..............................
| ||
(4) If a consent to standby adoption is executed in this | ||
form,
the consent shall be valid only if the specified
person | ||
or persons adopt the child. The consent shall be void if:
| ||
(a) the specified person or persons do not file a petition | ||
for standby
adoption of the child; or
| ||
(b) a court denies the standby adoption petition.
| ||
The parent shall not need to take further action to revoke | ||
the consent if the
standby adoption by the specified person or | ||
persons does not occur,
notwithstanding the provisions of | ||
Section 11 of this Act.
| ||
C. The form of surrender to any agency given by a parent of | ||
a born
child who is to be subsequently placed for adoption | ||
shall be
substantially as follows and shall contain such other | ||
facts and
statements as the particular agency shall require.
| ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE SURRENDER
| ||
FOR PURPOSES OF ADOPTION
| ||
I, .... (relationship, e.g., mother, father, relative, |
guardian) of
...., a ..male child, state:
| ||
That such child was born on ...., at .....
| ||
That I reside at ...., County of ...., and State of .....
| ||
That I am of the age of .... years.
| ||
That I do hereby surrender and entrust the entire custody | ||
and control
of such child to the .... (the "Agency"), a | ||
(public) (licensed) child
welfare agency with its principal | ||
office in the City of ...., County of
.... and State of ...., | ||
for the purpose of enabling it to care for and
supervise the | ||
care of such child, to place such child for adoption and
to | ||
consent to the legal adoption of such child.
| ||
That I hereby grant to the Agency full power and authority | ||
to place
such child with any person or persons it may in its | ||
sole discretion
select to become the adopting parent or parents | ||
and to consent to the
legal adoption of such child by such | ||
person or persons; and to take any
and all measures which, in | ||
the judgment of the Agency, may be for the
best interests of | ||
such child, including authorizing medical, surgical
and dental | ||
care and treatment including inoculation and anaesthesia for
| ||
such child.
| ||
That I wish to and understand that by signing this | ||
surrender I do
irrevocably and permanently give up all custody | ||
and other parental
rights I have to such child.
| ||
That I understand I cannot under any circumstances, after | ||
signing
this surrender, change my mind and revoke or cancel | ||
this surrender or
obtain or recover custody or any other rights |
over such child.
| ||
That I have read and understand the above and I am signing | ||
it as my
free and voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
........................
| ||
C-5. The form of a Final and Irrevocable Designated | ||
Surrender for Purposes of Adoption to any agency given by a | ||
parent of a born child who is to be subsequently placed for | ||
adoption is to be used by legal parents only. The form shall be | ||
substantially as follows and shall contain such other facts and | ||
statements as the particular agency shall require: | ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE DESIGNATED SURRENDER | ||
FOR PURPOSES OF ADOPTION | ||
I, .... (relationship, e.g., mother, father, relative, | ||
guardian) of ...., a ..male child, state: | ||
1. That such child was born on ...., at ..... | ||
2. That I reside at ...., County of ...., and State of | ||
..... | ||
3. That I am of the age of .... years. | ||
4. That I do hereby surrender and entrust the entire | ||
custody and control of such child to the .... (the "Agency"), a | ||
(public) (licensed) child welfare agency with its principal | ||
office in the City of ...., County of .... and State of ...., | ||
for the purpose of enabling it to care for and supervise the | ||
care of such child, to place such child for adoption with | ||
............................. (specified person or persons) |
and to consent to the legal adoption of such child and to take | ||
any and all measures which, in the judgment of the Agency, may | ||
be for the best interests of such child, including authorizing | ||
medical, surgical and dental care and treatment including | ||
inoculation and anesthesia for such child. | ||
5. That I wish to and understand that by signing this | ||
surrender I do irrevocably and permanently give up all custody | ||
and other parental rights I have to such child. | ||
6. That if the petition for adoption is not filed by the
| ||
specified person or persons designated herein or, if the
| ||
petition for adoption is filed but the adoption petition is
| ||
dismissed with prejudice or the adoption proceeding is
| ||
otherwise concluded without an order declaring the child to be
| ||
the adopted child of each specified person, then I understand | ||
that the Agency will provide notice to me within 10 business | ||
days and that such notice will be directed to me using the | ||
contact information I have provided to the Agency. I understand | ||
that I will have 10 business days from the date that the Agency | ||
sends me its notice to respond, within which time I may choose | ||
to designate other adoptive parent(s). However, I acknowledge | ||
that
the Agency has full power and authority to place the child | ||
for adoption with
any person or persons it may in its sole | ||
discretion select to
become the adopting parent or parents and | ||
to consent to the
legal adoption of the child by such person or | ||
persons. | ||
7. That I acknowledge that this surrender is valid even if |
the specified persons separate or divorce or one of the | ||
specified persons dies prior to the entry of the final judgment | ||
for adoption. | ||
8. That I expressly acknowledge that the above paragraphs 6 | ||
and 7 do not impair the validity and absolute finality of this | ||
surrender under any circumstance. | ||
9. That I understand that I have a remaining obligation to | ||
keep the Agency informed of my current contact information | ||
until the adoption of the child has been finalized if I wish to | ||
be notified in the event the adoption by the specified | ||
person(s) cannot proceed. | ||
10. That I understand I cannot under any circumstances, | ||
after signing this surrender, change my mind and revoke or | ||
cancel this surrender or obtain or recover custody or any other | ||
rights over such child. | ||
11. That I have read and understand the above and I am | ||
signing it as my free and voluntary act. | ||
Dated (insert date). | ||
.............................. | ||
D. The form of surrender to an agency given by a parent of | ||
an unborn
child who is to be subsequently placed for adoption | ||
shall be
substantially as follows and shall contain such other | ||
facts and
statements as the particular agency shall require.
| ||
SURRENDER OF UNBORN CHILD FOR
| ||
PURPOSES OF ADOPTION
| ||
I, .... (father), state:
|
That I am the father of a child expected to be born on or | ||
about ....
to .... (name of mother).
| ||
That I reside at ...., County of ...., and State of .....
| ||
That I am of the age of .... years.
| ||
That I do hereby surrender and entrust the entire custody | ||
and control
of such child to the .... (the "Agency"), a | ||
(public) (licensed) child
welfare agency with its principal | ||
office in the City of ...., County of
.... and State of ...., | ||
for the purpose of enabling it to care for and
supervise the | ||
care of such child, to place such child for adoption and
to | ||
consent to the legal adoption of such child, and that I have | ||
not
previously executed a consent or surrender with respect to | ||
such child.
| ||
That I hereby grant to the Agency full power and authority | ||
to place
such child with any person or persons it may in its | ||
sole discretion
select to become the adopting parent or parents | ||
and to consent to the
legal adoption of such child by such | ||
person or persons; and to take any
and all measures which, in | ||
the judgment of the Agency, may be for the
best interests of | ||
such child, including authorizing medical, surgical
and dental | ||
care and treatment, including inoculation and anaesthesia for
| ||
such child.
| ||
That I wish to and understand that by signing this | ||
surrender I do
irrevocably and permanently give up all custody | ||
and other parental
rights I have to such child.
| ||
That I understand I cannot under any circumstances, after |
signing
this surrender, change my mind and revoke or cancel | ||
this surrender or
obtain or recover custody or any other rights | ||
over such child, except
that I have the right to revoke this | ||
surrender by giving written notice
of my revocation not later | ||
than 72 hours after the birth of such child.
| ||
That I have read and understand the above and I am signing | ||
it as my
free and voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
........................
| ||
E. The form of consent required from the parents for the | ||
adoption of
an adult, when such adult elects to obtain such | ||
consent, shall be
substantially as follows:
| ||
CONSENT
| ||
I, ...., (father) (mother) of ...., an adult, state:
| ||
That I reside at ...., County of .... and State of .....
| ||
That I do hereby consent and agree to the adoption of such | ||
adult by
.... and .....
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
.........................
| ||
F. The form of consent required for the adoption of a child | ||
of the
age of 14 years or over, or of an adult, to be given by | ||
such person,
shall be substantially as follows:
| ||
CONSENT
| ||
I, ...., state:
| ||
That I reside at ...., County of .... and State of ..... | ||
That I am
of the age of .... years. That I hereby enter my |
appearance in this proceeding and waive service of summons on | ||
me. That I consent and agree to my adoption by
.... and .....
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
........................
| ||
G. The form of consent given by an agency to the adoption | ||
by
specified persons of a child previously surrendered to it | ||
shall set
forth that the agency has the authority to execute | ||
such consent. The
form of consent given by a guardian of the | ||
person of a child sought to
be adopted, appointed by a court of | ||
competent jurisdiction, shall set
forth the facts of such | ||
appointment and the authority of the guardian to
execute such | ||
consent.
| ||
H. A consent (other than that given by an agency, or | ||
guardian of the
person of the child sought to be adopted who | ||
was appointed by a court of
competent jurisdiction) shall be | ||
acknowledged by a parent before a judge of a court of competent | ||
jurisdiction or, except as otherwise provided in
this Act, | ||
before a representative of an agency, or before a person, other | ||
than the attorney for the prospective adoptive parent or | ||
parents, designated by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
| ||
I. A surrender, or any other document equivalent to a | ||
surrender, by
which a child is surrendered to an agency shall | ||
be acknowledged by the
person signing such surrender, or other | ||
document, before a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction, | ||
or, except as otherwise provided in this Act, before a | ||
representative of an agency, or before a person designated by a |
court
of competent jurisdiction.
| ||
J. The form of the certificate of acknowledgment for a | ||
consent, a
surrender, or any other document equivalent to a | ||
surrender, shall be
substantially as follows:
| ||
STATE OF ....)
| ||
) SS.
| ||
COUNTY OF ...)
| ||
I, .... (Name of judge or other person), .... (official | ||
title, name and
location of court or status or position of | ||
other person),
certify that ...., personally known to me to be | ||
the same person whose
name is subscribed to the foregoing | ||
(consent) (surrender), appeared
before me this day in person | ||
and acknowledged that (she) (he) signed and
delivered such | ||
(consent) (surrender) as (her) (his) free and voluntary
act, | ||
for the specified purpose.
| ||
I have fully explained that by signing such (consent) | ||
(surrender)
(she) (he) is irrevocably relinquishing all | ||
parental rights to such
child or adult and (she) (he) has | ||
stated that such is (her) (his)
intention and desire. (Add if | ||
Consent only) I am further satisfied that, before signing this | ||
Consent, ........ has read, or has had read to him or her, the | ||
Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
Signature ...............
| ||
K. When the execution of a consent or a surrender is | ||
acknowledged
before someone other than a judge,
such other |
person shall have his or her signature on the certificate
| ||
acknowledged before a notary public, in form substantially as | ||
follows:
| ||
STATE OF ....)
| ||
) SS.
| ||
COUNTY OF ...)
| ||
I, a Notary Public, in and for the County of ......, in the | ||
State of
......, certify that ...., personally known to me to | ||
be the
same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing | ||
certificate of
acknowledgment, appeared before me in person and | ||
acknowledged that (she)
(he) signed such certificate as (her) | ||
(his) free and voluntary act and
that the statements made in | ||
the certificate are true.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
Signature ...................... Notary Public
| ||
(official seal)
| ||
There shall be attached a certificate of magistracy, or | ||
other
comparable proof of office of the notary public | ||
satisfactory to the
court, to a consent signed and acknowledged | ||
in another state.
| ||
L. A surrender or consent executed and acknowledged outside | ||
of this
State, either in accordance with the law of this State | ||
or in accordance
with the law of the place where executed, is | ||
valid.
| ||
M. Where a consent or a surrender is signed in a foreign |
country,
the execution of such consent shall be acknowledged or | ||
affirmed in a
manner conformable to the law and procedure of | ||
such country.
| ||
N. If the person signing a consent or surrender is in the | ||
military
service of the United States, the execution of such | ||
consent or surrender
may be acknowledged before a commissioned | ||
officer and the signature of
such officer on such certificate | ||
shall be verified or acknowledged
before a notary public or by | ||
such other procedure as is then in effect
for such division or | ||
branch of the armed forces.
| ||
O. (1) The parent or parents of a child in whose interests | ||
a petition
under Section 2-13 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 | ||
is pending may, with the
approval of the designated | ||
representative of the Department of Children and
Family | ||
Services ("Department" or "DCFS"), execute a consent to | ||
adoption by a specified person or
persons:
| ||
(a) in whose physical custody the child has resided for | ||
at least 6
months;
or
| ||
(b) in whose physical custody at least one sibling of | ||
the child who is the
subject of this consent has resided | ||
for at least 6 months, and
the child who is
the subject of | ||
this consent is currently residing in this foster home; or
| ||
(c) in whose physical custody a child under one year of | ||
age has resided
for at least 3 months.
| ||
The court may waive the time frames in subdivisions (a), | ||
(b), and (c) for good cause shown if the court finds it to be in |
the child's best interests. | ||
A consent under this subsection O shall be acknowledged by | ||
a parent pursuant to
subsection H and subsection K of this | ||
Section.
| ||
(2) The final and irrevocable consent to adoption by a | ||
specified person or persons in a Department of Children and | ||
Family Services (DCFS) case shall be substantially
as follows:
| ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE CONSENT TO ADOPTION BY
| ||
A SPECIFIED PERSON OR PERSONS: DCFS CASE
| ||
I, ......................................, the | ||
.................. (mother or
father) of a ....male child, | ||
state:
| ||
1. My child ............................ (name of | ||
child) was born on
(insert date) at .................... | ||
Hospital in the municipality of ........., in
| ||
................ County, State of ...............
| ||
2. I reside at ......................, County of | ||
............. and
State of .............. | ||
Mail may also be sent to me at this address | ||
............................, in care of ................. | ||
My home telephone number is ...................... | ||
My cell telephone number is ...................... | ||
My e-mail address is .................................
| ||
3. I, ..........................., am .... years old.
| ||
4. I enter my appearance in this action for my child to | ||
be adopted by the
person or persons specified herein by me |
and waive service of
summons on me in this action only.
| ||
5. I hereby acknowledge that I have been provided a | ||
copy of the Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities for | ||
DCFS Cases before signing this Consent and that I have had | ||
time to read this form or have it read to me and that I | ||
understand the rights and responsibilities described in | ||
this form. I understand that if I do not receive any of my | ||
rights as described in the form, it shall not constitute a | ||
basis to revoke this Final and Irrevocable Consent to | ||
Adoption by a Specified Person or Persons. | ||
6. I do hereby consent and agree to the adoption of | ||
such child by .......... (specified person or persons) | ||
only. | ||
7. I wish to sign this consent and I understand that by | ||
signing this consent I irrevocably and permanently give up | ||
all my parental rights I have to my child. | ||
8. I understand that this consent allows my child to be | ||
adopted by .......... only and that I cannot under any | ||
circumstances after signing this document change my mind | ||
and revoke or cancel this consent. | ||
9. I understand that this consent will be void if: | ||
(a) the Department places my child with someone | ||
other than the specified person or persons; or | ||
(b) a court denies the adoption petition for the | ||
specified person or persons to adopt my child; or | ||
(c) the DCFS Guardianship Administrator refuses to |
consent to my child's adoption by the specified person | ||
or persons on the basis that the adoption is not in my | ||
child's best interests. | ||
I understand that if this consent is void I have | ||
parental rights to my child, subject to any applicable | ||
court orders including those entered under Article II of | ||
the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, unless and until I sign a | ||
new consent or surrender or my parental rights are | ||
involuntarily terminated. I understand that if this | ||
consent is void, my child may be adopted by someone other | ||
than the specified person or persons only if I sign a new | ||
consent or surrender, or my parental rights are | ||
involuntarily terminated. I understand that if this | ||
consent is void, the Department will notify me within 30 | ||
days using the addresses and telephone numbers I provided | ||
in paragraph 2 of this form. I understand that if I receive | ||
such a notice, it is very important that I contact the | ||
Department immediately, and preferably within 30 days, to | ||
have input into the plan for my child's future. | ||
10. I understand that if a petition for adoption of my | ||
child is filed by someone other than the specified person | ||
or persons, the Department will notify me within 14 days | ||
after the Department becomes aware of the petition. The | ||
fact that someone other than the specified person or | ||
persons files a petition to adopt my child does not make | ||
this consent void. |
11. If a person other than the specified person or | ||
persons files a petition to adopt my child or if the | ||
consent is void under paragraph 9, the Department will send | ||
written notice to me using the mailing address and email | ||
address provided by me in paragraph 2 of this form. The | ||
Department will also contact me using the telephone numbers | ||
I provided in paragraph 2 of this form. It is very | ||
important that I let the Department know if any of my | ||
contact information changes. If I do not let the Department | ||
know if any of my contact information changes, I understand | ||
that I may not receive notification from the Department if | ||
this consent is void or if someone other than the specified | ||
person or persons files a petition to adopt my child. If | ||
any of my contact information changes, I should immediately | ||
notify: | ||
Caseworker's name and telephone number: | ||
............................................................; | ||
Agency name, address, zip code, and telephone number: | ||
............................................................; | ||
Supervisor's name and telephone number: | ||
............................................................; | ||
DCFS Advocacy Office for Children and Families: | ||
800-232-3798. | ||
12. I expressly acknowledge that paragraph 9 (and | ||
paragraphs 8a and 8b, if applicable) do not impair the | ||
validity and finality of this consent under any |
circumstances.
| ||
13. I have read and understand the above and I am | ||
signing it as my free
and voluntary act.
| ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
.............................................
| ||
Signature of parent
| ||
(3) If the parent consents to an adoption by 2 specified | ||
persons, then the
form shall contain 2 additional paragraphs in | ||
substantially the following form:
| ||
8a. If ............... (specified persons) get a | ||
divorce
or are granted a dissolution of a civil union | ||
before the petition to adopt my child is granted, this | ||
consent is valid for ........... (specified person) to | ||
adopt my child. I understand that I cannot change my mind | ||
or revoke this consent or recover custody of my child on | ||
the basis that the specified persons divorce or are granted | ||
a dissolution of a civil union.
| ||
8b. I understand that if either ...............
| ||
(specified persons) dies before the petition to adopt
my | ||
child is granted, this consent remains valid for the | ||
surviving person to adopt my child. I understand that I | ||
cannot change my mind or revoke this consent or recover | ||
custody of my child on the basis that one of the specified | ||
persons dies.
| ||
(4) The form of the certificate of acknowledgement for a | ||
Final and
Irrevocable Consent for Adoption by a Specified |
Person or Persons: DCFS Case shall be
substantially as follows:
| ||
STATE OF ..............)
| ||
) SS.
| ||
COUNTY OF .............)
| ||
I, .................... (Name of Judge or other person),
| ||
..................... (official title, name, and address),
| ||
certify that ............., personally known to me to be the | ||
same person whose
name is subscribed to the foregoing Final and | ||
Irrevocable Consent for Adoption
by a Specified Person or | ||
Persons: DCFS Case, appeared before me this day
in person and | ||
acknowledged that (she)(he) signed and delivered the consent as
| ||
(her)(his) free and voluntary act, for the specified purpose.
| ||
I have fully explained that by signing this consent this | ||
parent is irrevocably
and permanently
relinquishing all | ||
parental rights to the child so that the child may be adopted | ||
by a specified person or persons, and this parent has stated | ||
that
such is (her)(his) intention and desire. I have fully | ||
explained that this consent is void only if:
| ||
(a) the placement is disrupted and the child is moved | ||
to a different placement; or | ||
(b) a court denies the petition for adoption; or | ||
(c) the Department of Children and Family Services | ||
Guardianship Administrator refuses to consent to the | ||
child's adoption by a specified person or persons on the |
basis that the adoption is not in the child's best | ||
interests. | ||
Dated (insert date).
| ||
...............................
| ||
Signature
| ||
(5) If a consent to adoption by a specified person or | ||
persons is executed in
this form, the following provisions | ||
shall apply. The consent shall be valid
only for the specified | ||
person or persons to adopt the child. The consent shall be void
| ||
if:
| ||
(a) the placement disrupts and the child is moved to | ||
another placement; or
| ||
(b) a court denies the petition for adoption; or
| ||
(c) the Department of Children and Family Services | ||
Guardianship
Administrator refuses to consent to the | ||
child's adoption by the specified person or persons on the | ||
basis that the adoption is not in the child's best | ||
interests.
| ||
If the consent is void under this Section, the parent shall | ||
not need to take further action to revoke the consent. No | ||
proceeding for termination of parental rights shall be brought | ||
unless the parent who executed the consent to adoption by a | ||
specified person or persons has been notified of the | ||
proceedings pursuant to Section 7 of this Act or subsection (4) | ||
of Section 2-13 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
| ||
(6) The Department of Children and Family Services is |
authorized
to promulgate rules necessary to implement this | ||
subsection O.
| ||
(7) (Blank).
| ||
(8) The Department of Children and Family Services shall | ||
promulgate a rule and procedures regarding Consents to Adoption | ||
by a Specified Person or Persons in DCFS cases. The rule and | ||
procedures shall provide for the development of the Birth | ||
Parent Rights and Responsibilities Form for DCFS
Cases. | ||
(9) A consent to adoption by specified persons on this
| ||
consent form shall have no effect on a court's determination of
| ||
custody or visitation under the Illinois Marriage and
| ||
Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Illinois Religious Freedom
| ||
Protection and Civil Union Act if the marriage or civil union | ||
of the
specified persons is dissolved after the adoption is | ||
final. | ||
P. If the person signing a consent is incarcerated or | ||
detained in a correctional facility, prison, jail, detention | ||
center, or other comparable institution, either in this State | ||
or any other jurisdiction, the execution of such consent may be | ||
acknowledged before social service personnel of such | ||
institution, or before a person designated by a court of | ||
competent jurisdiction. | ||
Q. A consent may be acknowledged telephonically, via | ||
audiovisual connection, or other electronic means, provided | ||
that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered an order | ||
approving the execution of the consent in such manner and has |
designated an individual to be physically present with the | ||
parent executing such consent in order to verify the identity | ||
of the parent. | ||
R. An agency whose representative is acknowledging a | ||
consent pursuant to this Section shall be a public child | ||
welfare agency, or a child welfare agency, or a child placing | ||
agency that is authorized or licensed in the State or | ||
jurisdiction in which the consent is signed. | ||
S. The form of waiver by a putative or legal father of a | ||
born or unborn child shall be substantially as follows: | ||
FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE | ||
WAIVER OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF PUTATIVE OR LEGAL FATHER | ||
I, .................... , state under oath or affirm as | ||
follows: | ||
1. That the biological mother ............... has | ||
named me as a possible biological or
legal father of her | ||
minor child who was born, or is expected to be born on
| ||
..........., ......, in the City/Town of........., State | ||
of ........... | ||
2. That I understand that the biological mother | ||
............. intends to or has placed the child
for | ||
adoption. | ||
3. That I reside at ................, in the City/Town | ||
of...........,
State of ................ |
4. That I am ................ years of age and my date | ||
of birth is ..............., ............. | ||
5. That I (select one): | ||
..... am married to the biological mother. | ||
..... am not married to the biological mother and | ||
have not been married to the biological
mother within | ||
300 days before the child's birth or expected date of | ||
child's birth. | ||
..... am not currently married to the biological | ||
mother, but was married to the biological
mother, | ||
within 300 days before the child's birth or expected | ||
date of child's birth. | ||
6. That I (select one): | ||
..... neither admit nor deny that I am the | ||
biological father of the child. | ||
..... deny that I am the biological father of the | ||
child. | ||
7. That I hereby agree to the termination of my | ||
parental rights, if any, without further notice to me
of | ||
any proceeding for the adoption of the minor child, even if | ||
I have taken any action to establish
parental rights or | ||
take any such action in the future including registering | ||
with any putative father
registry. | ||
8. That I understand that by signing this Waiver I do | ||
irrevocably and permanently give up all
custody and other | ||
parental rights I may have to such child. |
9. That I understand that this Waiver is FINAL AND | ||
IRREVOCABLE and that I am permanently
barred from | ||
contesting any proceeding for the adoption of the child | ||
after I sign this Waiver. | ||
10. That I waive any further service of summons or | ||
other pleadings in any proceeding to terminate
parental | ||
rights, if any to this child, or any proceeding for | ||
adoption of this child. | ||
11. That I understand that if a final judgment or order | ||
of adoption for this child is not entered, then
any | ||
parental rights or responsibilities that I may have remain | ||
intact. | ||
12. That I have read and understand the above and that | ||
I am signing it as my free and voluntary act. | ||
Dated: ................... , .............. | ||
........................................... | ||
Signature | ||
OATH | ||
I have been duly sworn and I state under oath that I have read | ||
and understood this Final and Irrevocable
Waiver of Parental | ||
Rights of Putative or Legal Father. The facts contained in it | ||
are true and correct to the
best of my knowledge. I have signed | ||
this document as my free and voluntary act in order to | ||
facilitate the
adoption of the child. |
.............................. | ||
Signature | ||
Signed and Sworn before me on | ||
this ............ day | ||
of ..........., 20.... | ||
................... | ||
Notary Public | ||
(Source: P.A. 97-493, eff. 8-22-11; 97-988, eff. 1-1-13; | ||
97-1063, eff. 1-1-13; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)
| ||
(750 ILCS 50/12.2 new) | ||
Sec. 12.2. Adoptive parent rights and responsibilities. | ||
Prior to finalization of an adoption pursuant to this Act, any | ||
prospective adoptive parent in a private adoption who is not | ||
being provided with adoption services by a licensed child | ||
welfare agency pursuant to the Child Care Act of 1969, who is | ||
not adopting a related child, and who is not adopting a child | ||
who is a ward of the Department of Children and Family Services | ||
shall be provided with the following form: | ||
Adoptive Parents Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form | ||
THIS FORM DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. LEGAL ADVICE IS | ||
DEPENDENT ON THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH SITUATION AND | ||
JURISDICTION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS FORM CANNOT REPLACE THE |
ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY LICENSED IN YOUR STATE. | ||
As an adoptive parent in the State of Illinois, you have | ||
the right: | ||
1. To be treated with dignity and respect. | ||
2. To make decisions free from pressure or coercion, | ||
including your decision to accept or reject the placement of a | ||
particular child. | ||
3. To be informed of the rights of birth parents. | ||
4. To know that the birth parent shall have the right to | ||
request to receive counseling before and after signing a Final | ||
and Irrevocable Consent to Adoption ("Consent"), a Final and | ||
Irrevocable Consent to Adoption by a Specified Person or | ||
Persons: Non-DCFS Case ("Specified Consent"), or a Consent to | ||
Adoption of Unborn Child ("Unborn Consent"). You may agree to | ||
pay for the cost of counseling in a manner consistent with | ||
Illinois law, but you are not required to do so. | ||
5. To receive a written schedule of fees and refund | ||
policies from the entity who will handle the investigation of | ||
your adoption for the Court. | ||
6. To explore the possibility of a subsidy for a child with | ||
special needs who is not a ward of the Illinois Department of | ||
Children and Family Services. The Department may provide a | ||
subsidy if the child meets certain criteria. If you adopt a | ||
child who is eligible for supplemental security income (SSI), | ||
or who meets other special needs criteria, your child may be | ||
subsidy eligible. You should discuss eligibility for a subsidy |
with your attorney before the adoption is finalized, as this | ||
option is only available before the entry of a Judgment Order | ||
for Adoption. | ||
7. To share information and connect in the future with the | ||
birth parent(s) of your child. The birth parent(s), you, and | ||
the adopted person have the right to voluntarily share medical, | ||
background, and identifying information, including information | ||
on the original birth certificate. This can be done through the | ||
Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange or | ||
through the birth parent completing a Birth Parent Preference | ||
Form. Please visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov and search for | ||
adoption or www.newillinoisadoptionlaw.com. | ||
8. To access the Confidential Intermediary program, which | ||
provides a way for a court appointed person to connect and/or | ||
exchange information between adopted persons, adoptive parents | ||
and birth parents, and other biological family members, | ||
provided in most cases that mutual consent is given. Please | ||
visit www.ci-illinois.org or call (800) 526-9022(x29). | ||
As an adoptive parent in the State of Illinois, it is your | ||
responsibility: | ||
1. To work cooperatively and honestly with the person or | ||
entity handling your investigation and appointed by the court, | ||
including disclosing information requested by that person or | ||
entity. | ||
2. To pay the agreed-upon fees to the investigating person | ||
or entity promptly. |
3. To keep the person or entity handling your investigation | ||
informed of any new pertinent information about your family. | ||
4. To cooperate with post-placement monitoring and | ||
support. | ||
5. To consult with your attorney prior to offering any | ||
financial assistance to the birth parent or parents. | ||
6. To obtain training in parenting an adopted child, which | ||
may include on-line and in-person training on adoption related | ||
topics. | ||
(750 ILCS 50/12.3 new) | ||
Sec. 12.3. Additional requirements in private adoptions. | ||
In cases of adoptions in which an Illinois licensed child | ||
welfare agency is not providing adoption services and the child | ||
who is the subject of the adoption is not a related child of | ||
the prospective adoptive parent and not under the custody or | ||
guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services | ||
under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the following | ||
requirements shall apply in addition to any other applicable | ||
requirements set forth in Section 6 or other provisions of this | ||
Act: | ||
(1) Within 10 days of filing a petition for adoption | ||
pursuant to Section 5 of this Act, the prospective adoptive | ||
parents and anyone 18 years of age or older who resides in | ||
the adoptive home must initiate requests for background | ||
checks from the following: the State police and child abuse |
registry from every state of residence for the 5 years | ||
preceding the filing date of the petition, the FBI, the | ||
National Sex Offender Registry, and, if Illinois | ||
residents, from the Illinois State Police and Child Abuse | ||
and Neglect Tracking System. The background checks must be | ||
fingerprint-based, if available. The Child Abuse and | ||
Neglect Tracking System background check must also be | ||
requested for each person 13 to 17 years of age living in | ||
the adoptive home. | ||
(2) Within 30 days of filing a petition for adoption, | ||
the results of the background checks set forth in paragraph | ||
(1) of this Section shall be provided to the guardian ad | ||
litem of the child appointed by the court or, should there | ||
not be a guardian ad litem, to the investigator appointed | ||
by the court pursuant to subsection A of Section 6 of this | ||
Act. | ||
(3) An initial assessment, including a home visit, must | ||
be made by the guardian ad litem or the investigator | ||
appointed by the court pursuant to subsection A of Section | ||
6 of this Act no later than 30 days of said appointment; | ||
(4) As part of the investigation, the guardian ad litem | ||
or the investigator appointed by the court pursuant to | ||
subsection A of Section 6 of this Act must provide the | ||
prospective adoptive parents with the Adoptive Parent | ||
Rights and Responsibilities-Private Form set forth in | ||
Section 12.2 of this Act. The prospective adoptive parent |
or parents must sign the form acknowledging receipt of the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
form, and the original form must be filed with the court at | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the time of the issuance of the interim order, and a copy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
must be provided to the prospective parent or parents; | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) The attorney for the prospective adoptive parent or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
parents or the birth parent or parents shall provide the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
prospective adoptive parent or parents with the Birth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent Medical form or forms if completed by the birth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
parent or parents as set forth in subsection A-2 of Section | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 of this Act, as soon as practicable but no later than | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the time of entry of the interim order; | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) The guardian ad litem, or the court-appointed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
investigator appointed pursuant to subsection A of Section | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 of this Act, shall provide a report of investigation to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the Court within 6 months after appointment, or earlier if | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
so ordered by the court. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) The birth parent shall have the right to request to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
receive counseling before and after signing a Final and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irrevocable Consent to Adoption form, a Final and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irrevocable Consent to Adoption by a Specified Person or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Persons: Non-DCFS Case form, or a Consent to Adoption of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unborn Child form. The prospective adoptive parent or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
parents may agree to pay for the cost of counseling in a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
manner consistent with Illinois law, but the prospective | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
adoptive parent or parents are not required to do so.
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