Section 2.38 Investigation of Child and Petitioner(s)—Waiver

• Library: Adoption Law and Practice 2014 Supp

A. (§2.38) Investigation of Child and Petitioner(s)—Waiver

Except as otherwise directed by the court, before a decree of adoption of a child under 18 years of age can issue, there must be a full investigation made and a report submitted to the court. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether the child is suitable for adoption by the petitioning parties and the suitability of the petitioning parties to serve as parents for the child. Section 453.070.1, RSMo Supp. 2003, requires:

Except as provided in subsection 5 of this section, no decree for the adoption of a child under eighteen years of age shall be entered for the petitioner or petitioners in such adoption as ordered by the juvenile court having jurisdiction, until a full investigation, which includes an assessment of the adoptive parents, an appropriate postplacement assessment and a summary of written reports as provided for in section 453.026, and any other pertinent information relevant to whether the child is suitable...