Montana Code Annotated 2019

TITLE 42. ADOPTION

CHAPTER 4. PLACEMENTS FOR ADOPTION

Part 3. Stepparent Adoption

Consent To Adoption -- Stepparent's Spouse

42-4-304. Consent to adoption -- stepparent's spouse. (1) A consent to adoption executed by a parent who is the stepparent's spouse must be signed in the presence of an individual authorized to take acknowledgments.

(2) A consent must be in writing and must state that:

(a) the parent executing the consent has legal and physical custody of the child and voluntarily and unequivocally consents to the adoption of the child by the stepparent;

(b) the adoption will not terminate the parental relationship between the parent executing the consent and the child; and

(c) the parent executing the consent understands and agrees that:

(i) the adoption will terminate the relationship of parent and child between the child's other parent and the child and will terminate any existing court order for custody, visitation, or communication with the child;

(ii) the child and any descendant of the child will retain rights of inheritance from or through the child's other parent; and

(iii) a court order for visitation or communication with the child by an individual related to the child through the parent executing the relinquishment or an agreement or order concerning another individual that is approved by the court survives the decree of adoption, but that failure to comply with the terms of the order or agreement is not a ground for revoking or setting aside the consent or the adoption.

History: En. Sec. 115, Ch. 480, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 257, L. 1999.