Annotate Legal Missouri Adoption Forms For Free

The answer to that depends on the situation of both the birth mother and the birth father. A MO adoption without parental consent may be a possibility depending on Missouri state laws regarding birth father rights. Rights of the biological father in adoption vary also depending on his situation.

Any person seeking to adopt must file a petition in the family or juvenile court. The petition may be filed in the county in which (1) the person seeking to adopt resides; (2) the child sought to be adopted was born; (3) the child is located at the time of filing of the petition; or (4) either birth parent resides.

The process of receiving your final decree of adoption in Missouri is called adoption finalization. Typically, this process plays out over six months or so post-placement. Just like the rest of the adoption process, you don't have to go through adoption finalization in Missouri on your own.

Adoption files are sealed by the court where the adoption was finalized. Those records are not accessible until an adopted adult over the age of 18 files a request, the lineal descendent files a request following the death of the adopted adult or an adult sibling makes a request, all by court order.

A natural parent and their spouse, the stepparent, must petition for permission from the court. They will need to have consent of the other biological parent and the child if they are over 14 years old. If the child is younger than 14, a guardian ad litem will be appointed to protect their rights.

Since July 1917, adoptions in Missouri have been under the jurisdiction of circuit courts and are sealed court records. Family Court provides an information packet [.stlcitycircuitcourt.com] with instructions on how to obtain various adoption records.