42-3-202. Initiation of preplacement evaluation -- who conducts evaluation -- payment of fees. - Montana Statutes

     42-3-202. Initiation of preplacement evaluation -- who conducts evaluation -- payment of fees. (1) A prospective adoptive parent who wishes to adopt a child may initiate the process by:
     (a) establishing a client relationship with the department or a licensed child-placing agency; or
     (b) requesting a preplacement evaluation from the department, a licensed social worker, or a licensed child-placing agency.
     (2) In a direct parental placement adoption, the preplacement evaluation must be conducted by either a licensed social worker or a licensed child-placing agency.
     (3) The prospective adoptive parent and the home of the prospective adoptive parent must be studied and evaluated according to the provisions of this part.
     (4) A department or agency from which an individual is seeking to adopt a child may require the individual to be evaluated by its own qualified employee or independent contractor even if the individual has received a favorable preplacement evaluation from another evaluator.
     (5) Fees for the study and report are set by the entity completing them and must be paid for by the prospective adoptive parent.

     History: En. Sec. 84, Ch. 480, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 311, L. 2001.