North Dakota's Adoption Laws
North Dakota
Statute: § 50-25.1-11
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
CPS/State Agencies
Courts/Judges
Physicians
Reporters of Abuse
Researchers
Parents/Guardians
Subject of Reports
Persons without access to records
Agencies From Other States
Grand Juries
Law Enforcement
Attorneys General/Prosecutors
Attorneys, GAL's
Employers
Coroners
Review Teams
Treatment Providers
Public/Any Person
Other Public
officials
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent may be signed any time following the birth of the child. The birth father may sign consents any time before or after the birth. Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of North Dakota. Revocation Time Frame in North DakotaThe consent may be revoked up until the court hearing, which cannot happen until 48 hours after the birth of the child. The birth mother then has 30 days to revoke her consent if it was obtained through fraud or duress. However, the burden of proof falls on the birth mother to prove that her consent was obtained through fraud or duress.
North Dakota
Who May Adopt
Statute: § 14-15-03
A husband
and wife together if not separated, even if one or both are minors
An unmarried
adult
The
unmarried parent of the adoptee
A married
individual legally separated
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: § 14-15-02
Any individual
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: §§ 14-15-05; 50-06-01.4
The child's
parent(s)
Custodian of
the child
The
department
A licensed
child-placing agency
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
North Dakota
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed Statute:
§§ 14-15-10; 14-15.1-06
Preplacement counseling, adoption assessment,
placement of the child, foster care, other preadoption services, or legal fees
that must be paid directly to the provider of the services
Medical
expenses relating to prenatal care and the birth of the child that are not
already covered by health insurance Expenses
for transportation, meals, and lodging incurred for placement of the child or in
order to receive services
Living
expenses of the birth mother that are needed to maintain an adequate standard of
living, which the birth mother is unable to otherwise maintain because of loss
of income resulting from the pregnancy
Birth Parent Expenses Not Allowed
Statute: §§ 14-15-10; 14-15.1-06
Payments may not extend beyond 6 weeks after
delivery unless approved by the court.
Living
expenses do not include lost wages, gifts, educational expenses, vacations, or
other similar expenses.
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption
Statute: § 12.1-31-05
It
is unlawful to accept, offer, or agree to accept anything of value for enabling
another to furnish a minor child for adoption.
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing
Child Statute: §§ 12.1-31-05; 14-15-10
It is
unlawful to accept anything of value for furnishing a child for purposes of
adoption.
Fees
may not be contingent upon placement of the child for adoption.
Allowable Fees Charged by
Department/Agency Statute: § 14-15.1-06
Reasonable
fees may be charged for professional services relating to placement,
relinquishment, or other preadoption services.
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court
Statute: § 14-15-10
The
petitioner shall file a full accounting in a manner acceptable to the court of
all disbursements made or agreed to be made related to the adoption.
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
North Dakota
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: § 14-15-11 Child
placement agency
Contents of Report About Person to be
Adopted Statute: §§ 14-15-11; 14-15.1-04
- Conditions and antecedents
- Medical and developmental history
Contents of Report About Birth Parents
Statute: § 14-15.1-04
- Medical and social history
- Assessment of the parent's understanding and
acceptance of the action
Contents of Report About Adoptive
Parents Statute: §§ 14-15-11; 14-15.1-04
- Suitability of home
- Criminal background check
- Emotional maturity, finances, health, and
relationships
- Any other factors that reflect on ability to
care for child
© 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.
| 
Adoption Records
