§ 26-10E-32 — Unlawful Placement of Minor for Adoption or Facilitation Thereof

Alabama § 26-10E-32

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 26: Infants and Incompetents
• Ch. 10E: Alabama Minor Adoption Code

Text

Only a parent, a parent of a deceased parent, or a relative of the degree of relationship specified in Section 26-10E-27, the State Department of Human Resources, a licensed child-placing agency, or an agency approved by the department may place, or facilitate the placement of, a minor for adoption. No person or entity other than the department or a licensed child-placing agency shall engage in the business of placing, or facilitating the placement of, minors for adoption. Any individual or entity making more than two separate and distinctive placements of minors who are unrelated to the petitioner or petitioners for adoption within the preceding 12-month period shall be deemed to be in the business of placing minors for adoption. Any other person who places, or facilitates the placement of, a minor for adoption is, upon the first conviction, guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and, upon subsequent convictions, is guilty of a Class C felony. This section does not intend to make it unlawful for any person not engaged in the business of placing, or facilitating the placement of, minors for adoption to give advice and assistance to a biological parent in an adoption. In making adoption arrangements, potential adopting parents and biological parents are entitled to the advice and assistance of legal counsel. Surrogate motherhood is not intended to be covered by this section.

Legislative History

(Act 2023-92, §1; Act 2025-407, §1.)