Bill > H0098

This bill addresses two key legal areas: confirmatory adoptions for children born through assisted reproduction and standby guardianships for parents facing immigration challenges. For confirmatory adoptions, the bill establishes a streamlined process for parents who used assisted reproduction to legally confirm their parental status, reducing bureaucratic hurdles such as home studies, in-person hearings, and criminal background checks. The bill defines key terms like "assisted reproduction" and "donor" and provides a clear pathway for parents to file an adoption petition with minimal additional requirements. Regarding standby guardianships, the bill creates a specific legal mechanism for parents facing adverse immigration actions to designate a guardian for their child, ensuring the child's care and stability during potential periods of parental detention or deportation. The standby guardianship provisions allow for consensual guardianship agreements that specify the guardian's responsibilities, include provisions for parent-child contact, and can be relatively quickly established through a court process. These changes aim to provide legal protections and clarity for families formed through assisted reproduction and families navigating complex immigration challenges, with a particular focus on maintaining the child's best interests and familial connections.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.98