Bill > SB599

This bill eliminates interlocutory decrees of adoption in Arkansas, which were provisional adoption orders that could become final after a specified period. The legislation makes several changes to existing adoption laws, primarily by removing references to interlocutory decrees and streamlining the adoption process to only include final decrees. Key provisions include modifying requirements for adoption jurisdiction, residency, and consent, ensuring that only final decrees of adoption will be issued. The bill maintains existing protections for children, such as requiring a minimum six-month residency period before finalizing an adoption and preserving sibling visitation rights in certain cases involving children previously in the custody of the Department of Human Services. The legislation also clarifies that any interlocutory decrees issued before the act's effective date will remain valid, ensuring no disruption to ongoing adoption proceedings. Additionally, the bill affects related legal matters like child support termination, medical insurance coverage, and birth record applications, aligning these processes with the new adoption decree framework.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb599&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R