Adoption

Yes. There are several requirements that must be met before a judge will approve of an adoption. Some of the requirements include a home study report prepared by a licensed child placement agency, the Department of Social Services or a certified independent social worker; you must be a resident of South Dakota; the child must reside with you at least six months prior to the adoption; you must pass a child abuse registry check; your criminal history, if any, will be reviewed; any child support obligations that you may have will be reviewed to determine if there are outstanding amounts due; you must be at least 10 years older than the minor child you wish to adopt; a child over the age of 12 years old must consent to the adoption; and a married person cannot adopt a child without the consent of their spouse. Single adults may also adopt.

Yes. There are several types of adoptions that include: a) adoptions facilitated by social service agencies; b) private adoptions facilitated by adoption attorneys; c) adoptions facilitated by the South Dakota Department of Social Services; d) interstate adoptions; e) international adoptions; f) adult adoptions; and g) stepparent adoptions.

The adoption petition must be filed in the county where the child resides or in the county where the prospective adoptive parents reside.

No. Any person who offers, gives or receives any money or any other thing of value in connection with the placing of a child for adoption, or relating to the consent to adoption, is guilty of a class six felony.

The cost of adoption varies from case to case. The cost of medical care and hospital care may be covered by the biological mother's insurance company. The fees associated with the adoption of a foster child are often paid by the Department of Social Services. Private and international adoptions can be quite costly, based upon their complexity. You should consult an experienced adoption attorney for further guidance on this subject.

The final adoption hearing will be conducted by a Circuit Court Judge. All papers, records and information pertaining to an adoption are confidential and the court file will be sealed. Following an adoption, the biological parents relinquish all rights, duties and responsibilities toward the child. A child, when adopted, may take the family name of the person adopting. The adoptive parents and the child will have the legal relation of parent and child and have all the rights and be subject to all the duties of that relationship

If you do not know an adoption lawyer personally, you may want to consult the lawyer referral service of the State Bar listed in the yellow pages of your South Dakota telephone directory. Choose your lawyer for his or her skill, reputation in the community and integrity. It is very important that you retain an experienced adoption lawyer for the reason that there are many special laws that might apply to your case. For instance, there are special federal and state laws that must be followed if the child to be adopted is Native American, if the child is from another country, or if the child or the prospective adoptive parents live in another state.