Washington's Adoption Laws

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

Adoption Records

Washington

Statute: § 26.44.125(5)

Records Confidential: Yes

Persons with access to records

Not addressed in statutes reviewed.

Persons without access to records

• CPS/State Agencies

• Agencies From Other States

• Courts/Judges

• Grand Juries

• Law Enforcement

• Attorneys General/Prosecutors

• Attorneys, GAL's

• Physicians

• Reporters of Abuse

• Researchers

• Employers

• Parents/Guardians

• Coroners

• Review Teams

• Treatment Providers

• Subject of Reports

• Public/Any Person

Other Disclosure in accordance with State and Federal laws

Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:

• Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12 months thereafter
• Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not required

• All parties
• The foster parents
• Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child

• The appropriateness of the service plan
• What services have been offered
• Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child

• Return to the parent
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Placement with a fit and willing relative
• Another planned permanent living arrangement

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Consent to Adoption

The consent may be signed any time before or after the birth of the child.

Pre-consents are allowed in the state of Washington.

Revocation Time Frame in Washington

The consent may be revoked any time prior to the court approval of the consent.

Parties to an Adoption

Washington

Any person who is:

• Legally competent

• Age 18 or older

Any person, regardless of age or residence

• A parent or guardian

• The department

• A child-placing agency

Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:

• Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12 months thereafter
• Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not required

• All parties
• The foster parents
• Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child

• The appropriateness of the service plan
• What services have been offered
• Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child

• Return to the parent
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Placement with a fit and willing relative
• Another planned permanent living arrangement

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Birth Father Statutes

No information currently available.

Adoption Expenses

Washington

1. • Prenatal, hospital, or medical expenses
2. • Attorney's fees and court costs

Not addressed in statutes reviewed

Not addressed in statutes reviewed

It is unlawful for any person to sell or purchase a minor child.

1. • A reasonable fee may be charged by an agency, the department, or a court approved person for preparation of the preplacement report.
2. • The fee may be reduced or waived if the person's financial condition so warrants.
3. • A fee may be charged for the postplacement report.

Accounting of Expenses Required by Court 

The Adoption Code does not provide for an accounting, but judges may, at their discretion, ask for one.

Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:

• Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12 months thereafter
• Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not required

• All parties
• The foster parents
• Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child

• The appropriateness of the service plan
• What services have been offered
• Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child

• Return to the parent
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Placement with a fit and willing relative
• Another planned permanent living arrangement

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

International Expenses

No information currently available.

General Adoption Statutes

Washington

1. • Department
2. • Individual approved by the court
3. • Court employee
4. • Child placing entity

1. • Complete medical history
2. • Physical exam with lab tests and x-rays
3. • Family background
4. • Chronological history of circumstances surrounding adoptive placement
5. • Psychiatric and/or psychological reports
6. • Court reports related to dependency or custody or school reports

1. • Medical history
2. • Mental or physical health history
3. • Family background
4. • Social history
5. • Chronological history of circumstances surrounding adoptive placement

1. • Home environment
2. • Family life
3. • Health
4. • Facilities
5. • Resources
6. • Fitness as a parent
7. • Understanding of issues associated with adoption
8. • Criminal background check

Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:

• Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12 months thereafter
• Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not required

• All parties
• The foster parents
• Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child

• The appropriateness of the service plan
• What services have been offered
• Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child

• Return to the parent
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Placement with a fit and willing relative
• Another planned permanent living arrangement

© 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.