(a)  All records of any adoption finalized in this state shall be permanently maintained by the department of children, youth, and families or by the agency arranging the adoption.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-3

  • Adoption: means the judicial act of creating the relationship of parent and child where it did not exist previously. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • Agency: means any public or private organization licensed or authorized under the laws of this state to place children for adoption. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • Successor agency: is a n agency which has the adoption records of another agency because of the merger of the agency and the successor agency or because a former agency has ceased doing business and has given its adoption records to the successor agency as provided in this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1

(b)  If an agency which handles adoptions ceases to do business, the agency shall transfer the adoption records to the department of children, youth, and families or to a successor agency, provided that the agency gives notice of the transfer to the department of children, youth, and families.

History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 388, § 1.