Senate Bill 618 Summary

• Allows adoptive parents and birth relatives to enter into voluntary written post-adoption contact agreements before or at the time an adoption decree is granted.

• Post-adoption contact agreements may include visitation, communication, letters, phone contact, and sharing of information between adoptees and birth relatives.

• Court approval is required for enforcement; agreements must include specific language stating that failure to comply cannot be grounds for setting aside an adoption or modifying custody orders.

• Courts may modify agreements only upon substantial change of circumstances or mutual consent; courts may enforce or terminate agreements based on the best interests of the adoptee using clear and convincing evidence standard.

• Establishes that failure to comply with post-adoption contact agreements cannot be used to set aside adoption decrees, revoke consents, or modify termination of parental rights orders.