(a) Upon entry of the decree of adoption, the relationship of parent and child and all the legal rights, privileges, duties, obligations and other legal consequences of the natural relationship of child and parent shall thereafter exist between the adopted child and the adoptive parents the same as though the child were born to the adoptive parents in lawful wedlock. The adopted child shall be entitled to inherit real and personal property from and through the adoptive parents and the adoptive parents shall be entitled to inherit real and personal property from and through the adopted child the same as though the child were born to the adoptive parents in lawful wedlock.

(b) Upon entry of the decree of adoption, the relationship of parent and child between the adopted child and the persons who were his parents just prior to the decree of adoption shall be completely severed and all the legal rights, privileges, duties, obligations and other legal consequences of the relationship shall cease to exist, including the right of inheritance, except that where the adoption is by the spouse of the child’s parent, the relationship of the child to such parent shall remain unchanged by the decree of adoption.

SOURCE: CC § 221.14 enacted by P.L. 13-133:1 (Feb. 3, 1976).