Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 42. ADOPTION

CHAPTER 4. PLACEMENTS FOR ADOPTION

Part 1. Direct Parental Placements

Direct Parental Placement -- Information To Be Filed

42-4-103. (Temporary) Direct parental placement -- information to be filed. (1) A parent who proposes to place a child for adoption with a prospective adoptive parent who resides in Montana and who is not the child's stepparent or an extended family member shall file with the court of the county in which the prospective adoptive parent or the parent making the placement resides the following:

(a) a notice of parental placement containing the following information:

(i) the name and address of the placing parent;

(ii) the name and address of each prospective adoptive parent;

(iii) the name and address or expected date and place of birth of the child;

(iv) the identity and information on the location of any other legal parent or guardian of the child and any other person required to receive notice under 42-2-605, including any current spouse, any spouse who is the other birth parent and to whom the parent was married at the probable time of conception or birth of the child, and any adoptive parent;

(v) all relevant information pertaining to any Indian heritage of the child that would bring the child within the jurisdiction of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. 1901, et seq., or the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act provided for in Title 41, chapter 3, part 13; and

(vi) the name and address of counsel, a guardian ad litem, or other representative, if any, of each of the parties mentioned in subsections (1)(a)(i) through (1)(a)(iii);

(b) a relinquishment and consent to adoption of the child by the adoptive parent;

(c) the adoptive decision support services report required by 42-2-409;

(d) the medical and social history disclosures required by 42-3-101;

(e) a report of disbursements identifying all payments made to or to the benefit of the placing parent by the prospective adoptive parent or anyone acting on the parent's behalf that contains a statement by each person furnishing information in the report attesting to the truthfulness of the information furnished by that person;

(f) a certified copy of the child's birth certificate or other document certifying the place and date of the child's birth;

(g) a certified copy of any existing court orders pertaining to custody or visitation of the child; and

(h) the preplacement evaluation.

(2) The notice of parental placement must be signed by the parent making the placement. (Terminates June 30, 2025--sec. 55, Ch. 716, L. 2023.)

42-4-103. (Effective July 1, 2025) Direct parental placement -- information to be filed. (1) A parent who proposes to place a child for adoption with a prospective adoptive parent who resides in Montana and who is not the child's stepparent or an extended family member shall file with the court of the county in which the prospective adoptive parent or the parent making the placement resides the following:

(a) a notice of parental placement containing the following information:

(i) the name and address of the placing parent;

(ii) the name and address of each prospective adoptive parent;

(iii) the name and address or expected date and place of birth of the child;

(iv) the identity and information on the location of any other legal parent or guardian of the child and any other person required to receive notice under 42-2-605, including any current spouse, any spouse who is the other birth parent and to whom the parent was married at the probable time of conception or birth of the child, and any adoptive parent;

(v) all relevant information pertaining to any Indian heritage of the child that would bring the child within the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. 1901, et seq.; and

(vi) the name and address of counsel, a guardian ad litem, or other representative, if any, of each of the parties mentioned in subsections (1)(a)(i) through (1)(a)(iii);

(b) a relinquishment and consent to adoption of the child by the adoptive parent;

(c) the adoptive decision support services report required by 42-2-409;

(d) the medical and social history disclosures required by 42-3-101;

(e) a report of disbursements identifying all payments made to or to the benefit of the placing parent by the prospective adoptive parent or anyone acting on the parent's behalf that contains a statement by each person furnishing information in the report attesting to the truthfulness of the information furnished by that person;

(f) a certified copy of the child's birth certificate or other document certifying the place and date of the child's birth;

(g) a certified copy of any existing court orders pertaining to custody or visitation of the child; and

(h) the preplacement evaluation.

(2) The notice of parental placement must be signed by the parent making the placement.

History: En. Sec. 95, Ch. 480, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 175, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 44, Ch. 716, L. 2023.