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New Jersey's Adoption Laws
New Jersey
Statute: § 9:6-8.10a
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
• CPS/State Agencies
• Courts/Judges
• Grand Juries
• Law Enforcement
• Attorneys, GAL's
• Physicians
• Reporters of Abuse
• Researchers
• Employers
• Parents/Guardians
• Review Teams
• Treatment Providers
• Subject of Reports
• Public/Any Person
Persons without access to records
• Agencies From Other States
• Attorneys General/Prosecutors
• Coroners
Other Day
care providers State legislative committees Victims of Crime Compensation Board
Public disclosure in child fatality or near fatality cases
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent maybe signed 72 hours following the birth.
MAKE SURE TO SEND THE AF THE BMS ORIGINAL SOC/MED DOC AS WELL AS THE NJ SOC/MED DOCS THAT AF HAS TO SIGN TO SHOW THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF. YOU MUST SEND BOTH SETS OF SOC/MED FORMS TO EVERY NJ AF. Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of New Jersey. Revocation Time Frame in New JerseyThe consent is irrevocable upon signing.
New Jersey
Who May Adopt
Statute: § 9:3-43
• Any person
who is at least 18 years of age and 10 years older than adoptee may adopt.
• Married
persons must adopt jointly.
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: § 9:3-39.1
Any child
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: § 9:3-39.1
• The parent
or guardian of the child
• An approved
agency
• An
intermediary, if the adoptive parent has a home study through an approved agency
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
New Jersey
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed Statute: § 9:3-39.1(e)
-
• Medical, hospital, counseling,
and other expenses connected with the birth of the child
-
• Reasonable living expenses,
including food, clothing, and shelter
-
• Attorney fees and legal costs
-
• Religious, psychological, or
vocational counseling during the pregnancy
-
• If the child is from a foreign
country, reasonable and customary fees and expenses of a foreign agency or
attorney
Birth Parent Expenses Not Allowed Statute: § 9:3-39.1(e)
Payments for
expenses cannot extend beyond 4 weeks after the termination of the pregnancy, by
birth or otherwise.
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption Statute: §
9:3-39.1(a)
Only an approved agency or person may offer to place or
materially assist in the placement of a child for adoption.
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child Statute: §
9:3-39.1(c), (d)
- • The decision to place a child for adoption cannot be contingent upon
payment of expenses.
- • Payments made are nonrefundable.
Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: §§
9:3-48; 9:3-53
- • In a nonagency adoption, all expenses and fees for the investigation
and any counseling provided shall be the responsibility of the adopting
parent.
- • The costs of all proceedings shall be borne by the petitioner.
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court Statute: § 9:3-55
A detailed report, signed and verified, that discloses all
sums of money or other valuable consideration paid or agreed to be paid, shall
be filed with the court.
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
New Jersey
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: § 9:3-41.1 Child
placement agency
Contents of Report About Person to be
Adopted Statute: § 9:3-41.1
- • Developmental and medical history
- • Personality and temperament
Contents of Report About Birth Parents
Statute: § 9:3-41.1
- • Medical history, including hereditary
conditions
- • Drugs and medications taken during pregnancy
- • Any known factor that may influence the current
or future health of the adopted person
Contents of Report About Adoptive
Parents Statute: § 9:3-54.2
- • Suitability
- • Criminal background check
- • History of child abuse
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.
American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
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