House Bill 680 Summary

• Courts must conduct a hearing to determine whether an adoption should be finalized, including verification of at least six months of lawful and actual custody (waivable for foster parent adoptions of children under court jurisdiction).

• Courts must review postplacement assessments, investigation reports, financial affidavits, guardian ad litem recommendations, and verify compliance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, and Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

• Adoptive parents domiciled in another state may file for finalization in that state after custody transfer has occurred in Missouri.

• Upon adoption finalization, further contact between parties shall be at the discretion of adoptive parents, and courts have no jurisdiction to deny continuing contact or exchange of identifying information between adoptive and birth parents.

• Missouri Supreme Court must develop a standardized adoption checklist form by January 1, 2012, that verifies submission and judicial review of all required documents and procedures, with the judge's signature required before entering a final adoption order.