Connecticut's Adoption Laws

• Adoption Records
• Consent To Adoption
• Parties To An Adoption
• Birth Father Statutes
• Adoption Expenses
• International Expenses
• General Adoption Statutes

Adoption Records

Connecticut

Statute: §§ 17a-101(k); 17a-28

Records Confidential: Yes

Persons with access to records

• CPS/State Agencies

• Agencies From Other States

• Courts/Judges

• Law Enforcement

• Attorneys General/Prosecutors

• Attorneys, GAL's

• Physicians

• Reporters of Abuse

• Researchers

• Review Teams

• Treatment Providers

• Public/Any Person

Persons without access to records

• Grand Juries

• Employers

• Parents/Guardians

• Coroners

• Subject of Reports

Other Governor Legislators Boards of Education Department of Public Health Public disclosure in child fatality or near fatality cases

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Consent to Adoption

The consent may not be signed until 48 hours after the birth. Connecticut state law requires that the birth mother receive counseling prior to signing the consent.

Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Connecticut.

Revocation Time Frame in Connecticut

The consent may be revoked any time prior to the court hearing, which usually occurs within 30 days of signing the consent.

Parties to an Adoption

Connecticut

Any adult person may adopt, with the following stipulations:

• The sexual orientation of the adopter may be considered when placing a child.

• The Commissioner is not required to place a child with a person who is homosexual or bisexual.

• A husband and wife must adopt jointly unless excepted by the court.

Any minor child legally free for adoption, as defined by this section

• Any parent or statutory parent

• The child's guardian(s)

• The Commissioner of Children and Families

• A child placing-agency

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Birth Father Statutes

Does State have a Putative Father Registry: No

Registry/Paternity Requirements to Receive Notice
Statute: §§ 46b-172a; 45a-716

• May file at any time but no later than 60 days after date of notice of termination proceedings.
• Complete form provided by probate.

Notice of termination proceeding given if:

• Adjudicated the father.
• Acknowledged in writing to be the father.
• Contributed regularly to the child's support.
• Name on birth certificate.
• Filed claim for paternity.
• Named in the petition as the father.

Information Contained in Registry/Claim
Statute: § 46b-172a

• Name and address of putative father and birth mother.
• Month and year of birth or expected birth.

Revocation of Claim to Paternity
Statute: § 46b-172(2)

• Mother and acknowledged father have a right to rescind his acknowledgement of paternity in writing within 60 days prior to an order of support. An acknowledgement may be challenged after 60 days only on the basis of fraud, duress or mistake.

Access to Information Maintained in Registry
Statute: § 46b-172a

• Sent to birth mother or prospective mother.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Adoption Expenses

Connecticut

1. • Counseling for the birth mother, including transportation
2. • Birth mother's living expenses
3. • Reasonable telephone costs
4. • Reasonable maternity clothing expenses

Payment to the birth mother for living expenses shall not exceed $1,500, unless approved in unusual circumstances by the court.

Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption 

Not addressed in statutes reviewed

 Not addressed in statutes reviewed

Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: § 45a-727(b) The court may assess the adopting parent a reasonable fee covering the cost of making the required investigation.

Accounting of Expenses Required by Court No accounting of expenses is specifically required by statute.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

International Expenses

Statutes Include Information on International Adoption: Yes

Effect of Foreign Adoption Decree:

• Not addressed in statutes reviewed.

Validation of Foreign Adoption:
Connecticut General Statutes § 45a-730 (1997)
Validation of foreign adoption decree allowed when required by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service because parents had not personally seen and observed the child prior to the adoption abroad.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

General Adoption Statutes

Connecticut

1. • Department of Children and Family Services
2. • Child placement agency

1. • Physical, mental, genetic, educational, and dental history (including neonatal records)
2. • Immunization records
3. • Family relationships
4. • History of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

1. • Age at birth of child
2. • Heritage, talents, education
3. • General physical appearance
4. • Existence of other children of the parent
5. • Reasons for placing child for adoption
6. • Religion
7. • Occupation
8. • Medical and mental health history

Contents of Report About Adoptive Parents Statute: § 45a-727 Physical, mental, social, and financial condition

© 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.