Rhode Island's Adoption Laws
Rhode Island
Statute: §§ 40-11-13;
42-72-8(a)-(d)
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
• CPS/State Agencies
• Agencies From Other States
• Courts/Judges
• Attorneys General/Prosecutors
• Attorneys, GAL's
• Physicians
• Reporters of Abuse
• Review Teams
• Treatment Providers
Persons without access to records
• Grand Juries
• Law Enforcement
• Researchers
• Employers
• Parents/Guardians
• Coroners
• Subject of Reports
• Public/Any Person
Other Department
of Corrections Child-placing agencies
Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions
Jurisdiction
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2301
The court of common pleas of each county
Venue
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2302
The county where:
- The parent or parents, the adoptee, or the petitioner resides
- The agency having custody or responsible for placement is located
- The adoptee formerly resided, with permission of the court
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent may be signed 15 days after the birth of the child. Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Rhode Island. Revocation Time Frame in Rhode IslandThe consent is irrevocable once it is accepted by the court.
Rhode Island
Who May Adopt
Statute: § 15-7-4
• Any resident
• A
non-resident who adopts a child in the custody of a child-placing agency
A husband and wife must petition jointly.
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: § 15-7-4
• Any person
younger than the adopter and under age 18
• Persons over
age 18 whose adoptions are granted by the probate court
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: § 15-7-2
• A parent who
notifies the department
• The
department or child-placing agency
Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions
Jurisdiction
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2301
The court of common pleas of each county
Venue
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2302
The county where:
- The parent or parents, the adoptee, or the petitioner resides
- The agency having custody or responsible for placement is located
- The adoptee formerly resided, with permission of the court
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Rhode Island
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed
There are no
specific statutory provisions regarding payment of adoption related expenses.
Birth Parent Expenses
Not Allowed Not addressed in statutes reviewed
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption
Not addressed in statutes reviewed
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child
Not addressed in statutes reviewed
Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency
Not addressed in statutes reviewed
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court
The statutes do not require an accounting, but the court may
request one.
Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions
Jurisdiction
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2301
The court of common pleas of each county
Venue
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2302
The county where:
- The parent or parents, the adoptee, or the petitioner resides
- The agency having custody or responsible for placement is located
- The adoptee formerly resided, with permission of the court
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Rhode Island
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: § 15-7-11
- • Department of Children, Youth and Families
Services
- • Child placement agency
Contents of Report About Person to be
Adopted Statute: § 15-7-2.1
- • Health status and medical history at time of
placement
- • Genetic and social history
- • Neonatal, psychological, developmental, and
medical care history
Contents of Report About Birth Parents
Statute: § 15-7-2.1
- • Genetic and social history
- • Medical history
- • Health status
- • If deceased, cause of and age at death
- • Physical description
- • Ethnic origins
- • Religion, if any
Contents of Report About Adoptive
Parents Statute: § 15-7-11
- • Suitability as parents
- • Criminal background check
Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions
Jurisdiction
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2301
The court of common pleas of each county
Venue
Citation: 23 Pa. § 2302
The county where:
- The parent or parents, the adoptee, or the petitioner resides
- The agency having custody or responsible for placement is located
- The adoptee formerly resided, with permission of the court
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.
American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
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