(a) The adoptee shall take the name designated by the petitioner or petitioners; provided, however, that if the adoptee is 14 years of age or older, the adoptee may elect to retain his or her current legal name, unless the court determines that the adoptee lacks the mental capacity to consent. After entry of the final judgment of adoption, the adoptee shall be treated as the legal child of the adoptive parent or parents and shall have all rights and be subject to all the duties arising from that relation.
(b) Upon the entry of the final judgment of adoption, the biological or legal parents of the adoptee, except for the spouse of an adoptive stepparent, are relieved of all
parental rights and responsibility for the adoptee and shall have no parental rights over the adoptee.
History: (Act 2023-92, §1; Act 2025-407, §1.)