Title 31, Family

§578-1 Who may adopt; jurisdiction; venue. Any unmarried adult person, person married to the legal birthing parent or non-birthing parent of a minor child, or married couple jointly may petition the family court of the circuit in which the person or persons reside or are in milit…

§578-1.5 Adoption. Any person may be adopted under this chapter; provided that an adult to be adopted must give written consent to the adoption. [L 1976, c 194, §1(11); gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 166, §1]

§578-10 Disposition of minor child on discontinuance, withdrawal or denial of petition. Upon the discontinuance or withdrawal or denial of any petition for adoption, the court may make appropriate temporary orders concerning the care, custody and control of a minor child involved…

§578-11 Disposition in case of death of petitioners. Notwithstanding the death of a petitioner or the petitioners during the pendency of the petition, the court, if it finds that the best interests of the individual to be adopted will be served thereby, and, in the case of a surv…

§578-12 Setting aside or modifying decree. At any time within one year from the date of entry of any decree of adoption, the court may, for good cause, set aside or modify the decree and, in connection therewith, may make appropriate orders, concerning the custody of the minor ch…

§578-13 Change of name. The court may fix or change the given name and the family name of an adoptive minor child to the name stipulated by the adoptive parents or that name which is in the best interest of the child. The court may fix or change the given name and family name of …

§578-14 Record of adoption. (a) A certified copy of the decree of adoption, or a certified abstract thereof on a form approved by the department of health, after the decree has become effective, shall be sent to the department. The department shall cause to be made a new record o…

§578-14.5 Medical information on the natural parents of the adopted minor child. (a) The department of health shall prepare a standard form entitled, "medical information form", for the purpose of perpetuating medical information on the natural parents of the adopted minor child.…

§578-15 Secrecy of proceedings and records. (a) The records in adoption proceedings, after the petition is filed and before the entry of the decree, shall be open to inspection only by the parties or their attorneys, the director of human services or the director's agent, or any …

§578-16 Effect of adoption. (a) A legally adopted individual shall be considered to be a natural child of the whole blood of the adopting parent or parents as provided in the Uniform Probate Code, relating to the descent of property. (b) The former legal parent or parents of an a…

§578-17 Guardian ad litem. Upon a finding by the court, in any stage of a proceeding under this chapter, that the best interests of a child whose adoption is sought herein will be served by the appointment of a guardian ad litem for said child, the court may appoint a guardian ad…

[§578-18] Interpretation of words to be gender-neutral. With regard to the rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of persons set forth in this chapter, all gender-specific terminology, such as "wife", "husband", "mother", "father", or similar terms, shall be construe…

§578-2 Consent to adoption. (a) Persons required to consent to adoption. Unless consent is not required or is dispensed with under subsection (c), a petition to adopt a child may be granted only if written consent to the proposed adoption has been executed by: (b) A petition to a…

§578-3 Custody of child pendente lite. At any stage of the proceeding subsequent to the filing of the petition and prior to the entry of a decree, the court, upon a showing that the best interests of the child will be served thereby, may order that the petitioner or petitioners s…

§578-4 Notice to resident nonconsenting legal parent whose rights have not been terminated. If a legal parent to whom notice must be given as aforesaid is within the State, a summons issuing under the seal of the court and containing a notification as to the time and place of hea…

§578-5 Same; proof of. A return of service of the summons shall be made by the serving officer in the manner prescribed by section 634-22, and be similarly effective. [L 1919, c 3, pt of §1; RL 1925, §3036; RL 1935, §4522; RL 1945, §12273; RL 1955, §331-5; HRS §578-5]

§578-6 Notice to nonresident or unlocated nonconsenting legal parent whose rights have not been terminated. If a legal parent to whom notice must be given as aforesaid was never an inhabitant of the State, or has removed therefrom, or if, after due diligence, the parent cannot be…

§578-7 Substituted or constructive service. Upon the filing of the affidavit referred to in section 578-6, the court may order service of the notice prescribed in sections 578-2 and 578-4 to be made as follows:

§578-8 Hearing; investigation; decree. (a) No decree of adoption shall be entered unless a hearing has been held at which the petitioner or petitioners, and any legal parent married to a petitioner, and any subject of the adoption whose consent is required, have personally appear…

§578-9 Custody of minor child after decree and before adoption. The decree may provide that, during the period, if any, between the entry thereof and the effective date of adoption, the care, custody, and control of a minor child be given to the petitioner or petitioners, who, in…