LSPR 93.04
                          ADOPTIONS


     (a) Relinquishments.

     (1) Personal Acknowledgment.  The written consent of
the birth mother shall be personally acknowledged before the
court at a hearing on the Petition for Relinquishment.  The
hearing shall be recorded.  It is recommended that the
written consent of any birth father "whether admitted,
presumed or alleged" be personally acknowledged before the
court, but appearance at the hearing on the Petition for
Relinquishment shall not be required of any birth father,
provided the father has signed a waiver of his right to
notice of and appearance at the hearing and provided he
requests, in writing, that he not be required to appear at
the hearing, unless otherwise required by the court per RCW 26.33.090.

     (2) Guardian Ad Litem for Minor Parent.  The guardian
ad litem for any minor parent, including an alleged birth
father, shall be appointed from the list of family law
guardians ad litem approved by the court, unless otherwise
ordered by the court for good cause.  Unless otherwise
ordered by the court the guardian ad litem shall be present
at the hearing on the Petition for Relinquishment.  The
guardian ad litem shall file a written report addressing the
factors set forth in RCW 26.33.070.

     (3) Form of Consent.  The written consent of any
parent, alleged father or presumed father shall be in the
form prescribed by RCW 26.33.160, and shall contain the
address of the Spokane County Superior Court Clerk.

     (4) Statement Regarding Social/Medical/Family History.
Each parent, presumed father and alleged father who consents
to the adoption and to the termination of the parent-child
relationship shall also submit a written statement
certifying that he or she has provided or will provide all
social, medical and family history of the child and of the
parent that is needed by the prospective adoptive parents to
properly care for the child and to help the prospective
adoptive parents maximize the developmental potential of the
child.  RCW 26.33.350.

     (b) Involuntary Termination of Parent-Child Relationship.

     (1) Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem.  If a parent
contests a petition for termination of the parent-child
relationship, by appearing in the action, either personally

or through an attorney, a Guardian Ad Litem shall be
appointed to represent the best interests of the child.

     (c) Non-agency Adoptions.

     (1) Placement Requirements.  The preplacement report
must be dated not more than one year preceding the filing of
a Petition for Relinquishment or for adoption or must be
supplemented within that period of time.  The preplacement
report shall be obtained by the prospective adoptive parents
at their expense from a licensed child-placing agency, the
State Department of Social and Health Services, or by a
court-approved individual who has a masters degree in social
work or a related field and one year of experience in social
work or a related field and one year of experience in social
work or who is demonstrated to have reasonably equivalent experience.

     (2) Checklist of Required Pleadings.  The following
documents should be filed in a non-agency
relinquishment/termination/adoption proceeding:

          (A) Relinquishment:

               (i) Petition for Relinquishment (mother
               and/or father)

               (ii) Prospective Adoptive Parents' Consent to
               Assume Custody

               (iii) Consent to Adoption (mother and/or
               father)

               (iv) Waiver of Right to Notice if applicable

               (v) Petition for Adoption

               (vi) Preplacement Report

               (vii) Financial Affidavit

               (viii) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law
               and Order Terminating Parent-Child
               Relationship

          (B) Termination:

               (i) Petition for Termination

               (ii) Order Setting Time for Hearing

               (iii) Summons and Notice of Hearing

               (iv) Affidavit of Service/Publication

               (v) Motion/Affidavit/Order of Default (if
               applicable)

               (vi) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and
               Order Terminating Parent-Child Relationship


          (C) Finalization:

               (i) Order Appointing Agency for postplacement
               report

               (ii) Postplacement report

               (iii) Acknowledgment of Receipt of All
               Information about child and birthparents

               (iv) Financial Affidavit

               (v) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and
               Decree of Adoption

               (vi) Adoption Data Card and Birth Certificate
               Registration Form

     (d) Finalizations.

     (1) Financial Declaration.  The adoptive parents in
every adoption shall set forth in a declaration or affidavit
a statement of all expenses paid and expected to be paid in
connection with the adoption.  Said affidavit shall be upon
a form approved by the court.

     (e) Stepparent Adoptions.

     (1) Preplacement Reports.  A preplacement report,
prepared pursuant to RCW 26.33.190, shall be required before
the adoption of a child by his or her stepparent:

          (A) If the petitioning stepparent and the
          custodial parent of the child have been married
          less than one year at the time the adoption is
          finalized;  or

          (B) If required by the court.

     (2) Postplacement Report.  If a preplacement report is
required in a stepparent adoption, the person or agency
doing that report shall be appointed to complete the
postplacement investigation and report, otherwise any
suitable person may be appointed to do the postplacement
report.  No person related by blood or marriage to the
custodial parent, the child or the petitioning stepparent
shall be appointed.  The report must contain the information
required by RCW 26.33.200, and also must verify the following:

          (A) Birth certificate data of the child;

          (B) Information concerning the dissolution of the
          marriage of the natural parents, where applicable;

          (C) Marriage certificate data of the petitioning
          stepparent and the parent of the child/spouse of petitioner;

          (D) The criminal history, if any, of the
          petitioning stepparent;

          (E) A history of support and parental contact by
          the parent whose legal relationship with the child
          will end as a result of the adoption;

          (F) Employment history of the petitioning stepparent;


          (G) Whether the child or his or her parents are
          Native Americans.

     (f) General Requirements.

     (1) Interstate Adoptions:  According to RCW 26.34 the
Interstate Compact on Placement of Children shall apply to
all cases in which the adoptee is born or residing in a
state other than Washington, or is born and residing in
Washington and is to be placed or adopted outside of
Washington.  Prior to any order allowing placement in cases
subject to ICPC the Petitioners shall file proof of
compliance with the ICPC process by filing a copy of the
form 100A with signatures from both states offices
indicating approval of the placement.

     (2) Attorney appointments:  Any non-consenting parent
who requests an attorney to be appointed at county expense
due to indigency will complete and file a Financial
Declaration WPF DR 01.0550.

     (3) Court's courtesy copies:  Courtesy copies of all
pleadings, notices and reports shall be provided to the
Family Law Coordinator 7 days prior to any hearing for
review.   In the event of an emergency, the pleadings shall
be provided no less than 24 hours prior to the hearing.  The
pleadings may be submitted in draft form in advance of the
birth of the adoptee, and may be submitted prior to filing
of the Petition.

     (4) Presentment of Orders:  While a Petition for
Termination/Relinquishment and Adoption may be filed prior
to the birth of the baby, no orders regarding default or
custody shall be signed prior to the birth.
                                        Effective 9/1/05