§ 15-7-1 Repealed
§ 15-7-2 Report, investigation, and hearing on placement of child for adoption
§ 15-7-2.1 Pre-adoption report on child placed for adoption
§ 15-7-3 Report, investigation, and hearing on child brought into state for adoption
§ 15-7-4 Petition to adopt – Court having jurisdiction
§ 15-7-5 Consent required
§ 15-7-5.1 Contact preference form information
§ 15-7-6 Waiver of parents’ right to consent – Guardianship of agency
§ 15-7-7 Termination of parental rights
§ 15-7-7.1 Court proceedings
§ 15-7-7.2 Mediation of termination of parental rights
§ 15-7-8 Notice to parents – Notice when no parent living or when parent in mental institution
§ 15-7-9 Notice to parent whose whereabouts unknown
§ 15-7-10 Consent of minor parents
§ 15-7-11 Investigation and report as to adoptive home
§ 15-7-12 Trial period of residence
§ 15-7-13 Consideration of religion of child or parents
§ 15-7-14 Decree of adoption
§ 15-7-14.1 Decree of open adoption
§ 15-7-15 Decree of change of name
§ 15-7-16 Inheritance by and from adoptive kindred
§ 15-7-17 Rights of natural parents terminated – Inheritance by child from natural parents
§ 15-7-18 Denial of petition – Order as to custody of child
§ 15-7-19 Appeal from the family court
§ 15-7-20 Jurisdiction of child pending appeal
§ 15-7-21 Repealed
§ 15-7-21.1 Challenge to decree
§ 15-7-22 Penalty for violations or false statements
§ 15-7-23 Complaints
§ 15-7-24 Attendance at hearing
§ 15-7-25 Reimbursement to adoptive parents
§ 15-7-26 Notice to natural father

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 15-7 - Adoption of Children

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • oath: includes affirmation; the word "sworn" includes affirmed; and the word "engaged" includes either sworn or affirmed. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-11
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.