July 8, 2016

Identified Adoptions in Connecticut

OLR Report 2015-R-0286 summarizes Connecticut’s identified adoption laws.

An ‘‘identified adoption’’ is one in which an unrelated child is identified for adoption by prospective adoptive parents before the child’s placement in the home. Under the law, only the Department of Children and Families (DCF) commissioner or a DCF-licensed or -approved child-placing agency may place an identified child for adoption.  Placing a child for identified adoption in violation of the law or assisting in such a placement is a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine up to $5,000, or both (CGS § 45a-729).

Identified adoption regulations establish requirements that address:

1. advertising by the birth parent, prospective adoptive parent, and child-placing agency;
2. prospective adoptive parents' home studies;
3. activities in which the prospective adoptive parent may participate;
4. birth parent counseling; and
5. payment of birth parent expenses by the prospective adoptive parents (CGS §§ 45a-728 et. seq. and Conn. Agencies Regs. §§ 45a-728-3, et. seq.).

The adoption process requires the filing of an application and a written adoption agreement in the probate court.  Click here to read more details concerning the specific requirements.