Minnesota Statutes 260C.601 – Adoption of Children Under Guardianship of Commissioner
Subdivision 1.Review and finalization requirements; adoption procedures.
(a) Sections 260C.601 to 260C.635 establish:
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 260C.601
- Agency: means the responsible social services agency or a licensed child-placing agency. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
- Child: means an individual under 18 years of age. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
- children: includes children by birth or adoption;
(9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;
(10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;
(11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;
(14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
(15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;
(16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;
(17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;
(18) "notary" means a notary public;
(19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;
(20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45
- Court: means juvenile court unless otherwise specified in this section. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
- Responsible social services agency: means the county social services agency that has responsibility for public child welfare and child protection services and includes the provision of adoption services as an agent of the commissioner of human services. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
(1) the requirements for court review of children under the guardianship of the commissioner; and
(2) procedures for timely finalizing adoptions in the best interests of children under the guardianship of the commissioner.
(b) Adoption proceedings for children not under the guardianship of the commissioner are governed by chapter 259.
Subd. 2.Duty of responsible agency.
The responsible social services agency has the duty to act as the commissioner’s agent in making reasonable efforts to finalize the adoption of all children under the guardianship of the commissioner pursuant to section 260C.325. In implementing these duties, the agency shall ensure that:
(1) the best interests of the child are met in the planning and granting of adoptions;
(2) a child under the guardianship of the commissioner is appropriately involved in planning for adoption;
(3) the diversity of Minnesota’s population and diverse needs including culture, religion, and language of persons affected by adoption are recognized and respected; and
(4) the court has the timely information it needs to make a decision that is in the best interests of the child in reviewing the agency’s planning for adoption and when ordering the adoption of the child.
Subd. 3.Background study.
Consistent with section 245C.33 and United States Code, title 42, § 671, a completed background study is required before the adoptive placement of the child in a related or an unrelated home.