MO HB1994

Allows prospective adoptive parents and biological parents to enter into a written post adoption contract agreement before or after adoption to permit contact between the adoptee, adoptive parents, and biological relatives.

Requires post adoption contract agreements to be in writing, signed by all parties, made part of the court record, and include acknowledgments that the adoption is irrevocable and that former parents may seek enforcement of agreed contact privileges.

Authorizes courts to enforce written post adoption contract agreements unless enforcement is not in the best interest of the adoptee.

Clarifies that courts have no jurisdiction to deny continuing contact between adoptive and biological parents or to deny exchange of identifying information between them.

Modifies section 211.444 to allow the children's division and courts to approve consent to adoption or waivers of consent by parents, and updates terminology in section 453.080 from "decree" to "judgment" for adoption finalization.