Maine's Adoption Laws
Maine
Statute: tit. 22, §§ 4008(1)-(3A);
4008-A
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
• CPS/State Agencies
• Courts/Judges
• Grand Juries
• Law Enforcement
• Attorneys General/Prosecutors
• Attorneys, GAL's
• Physicians
• Reporters of Abuse
• Researchers
• Parents/Guardians
• Review Teams
• Treatment Providers
• Subject of Reports
• Public/Any Person
Persons without access to records
• Agencies From Other States
• Employers
• Coroners
Other State officials
Commissioner of Education Prospective adoptive parents Tribal agencies Public
disclosure in child fatality cases
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent may be signed any time after the birth of the child. Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Maine. Revocation Time Frame in MaineThe consent may be revoked up to 3 days after appearing in court.
Maine
Who May Adopt
Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-301
• A husband
and wife jointly
• An unmarried
person
• Resident or
nonresident
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-301
Any person, regardless of age
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-302
• The child's
parent(s)
• Person or
agency having legal custody of guardianship of the child
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Maine
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-306(a)
-
• Actual cost of legal services
related to consent
-
• Prenatal and postnatal
counseling
-
• Prenatal, postnatal, and
birthing medical costs for the mother
-
• Transportation to the services
that are permitted
-
• Foster care for the child
-
• Reasonable living expenses for
the birth mother and the child
-
• Counseling and legal fees for
the birth father
-
• Fees to the placing agency
Birth Parent Expenses Not Allowed Statute: Tit.18-A, §
9-306(c)
Other expenses or payments to
the birth parents are not authorized.
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption
Not addressed
in statutes reviewed
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child Statute: Tit.18-A, §
9-306(c)
Payments for
allowable expenses may not be contingent upon any future decision a birth parent
may make pertaining to the child.
Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: Tit. 18-A,
§ 9-301
-
• The fee for filing an adoption
petition is $50.
-
• A fee is charged for the
required State and Federal criminal history record check.
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court Statute: Tit. 18-A, §
9-306(b)
-
• The petitioner shall file a
full accounting of all disbursements made or agreed to be made in connection
with the adoption.
-
• The accounting must be signed
under penalty of perjury and itemized.
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Maine
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-304
- • Department of Human Services
- • Child placement agency
Contents of Report About Person to be
Adopted Statute: Tit. 18-A, § 9-304
- • Entire medical, genetic, psychological, and
developmental history
- • History of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- • Immunizations and health care received
- • Conditions and antecedents of the child
Contents of Report About Birth Parents Statute: Tit. 18-A, §
9-304
- • Medical and genetic information
- • Drugs taken during pregnancy
- • Hereditary predispositions
- • Drug or alcohol abuse
- • Medical, psychological, and social history
Contents of Report About Adoptive Parents Statute: Tit. 18-A, §
9-304
- • Screening for child abuse
- • Criminal history check
- • Suitability
© 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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