Wyoming Adoption Laws Page1

Adoption Laws in Wyoming Page1

Acknowledgement or approval of Consent shall be done in following ways:

• Consent of adoption shall be acknowledged by an authorized person, representative of department or a certified agency to which the child's custody is being relinquished.
• A court cab also approved the Consent.

Adopting Parties

Statute: - § 1-22-103
A person (adult) residing in this state or has resided for at least sixty days and is fit and competent to be a parent can adopt the child
• Following persons may place a child for adoption:
  Statute: - § 1-22-109
  • Both Parents if living
  • Guardians (legal)
  • A mother and putative father if his name is known
  • Legal custodian of child, or
  • An Executive Head of Agency to which the child has been relinquished for adoption.

Putative Fathers

Statute: - §- § 1-22-117; 1-22-108(c)(ii), (d)
• Registry is required for putative fathers.
• The putative father has the rights to file a notice to claim paternity, before or after the birth of child.
• He can also file the instrument acknowledging paternity.
• If putative father already has the knowledge about the child's birth or pending birth, then he can evidence an interest in and responsibility for that child. But he can do this within thirty days after receiving notice of the birth of child or pending birth.

The putative father can assert paternity in termination proceedings only in following conditions:

• If he is known or identified by mother or agency.
• He has lived with or married the mother after the birth of child and before the filing of the adoption petition.
• He has acknowledged the child as his own.
• Registry Information:
  Statute: - § 1-22-117(a)

  A putative father registry must be established by the Department of Family Services which shall maintain the names and addresses of:

  • A person adjudicated by a state court (Wyoming) to be the father of child.
  • A person who has filed with the registry, before or after the birth of child, a notice of intent to claim paternity.
  • A person who has adjudicated by any court of another State or territory of the US, to be a father of an out-of-wedlock child.

• Paternity Revocation (of claim):
  Statute: - § 1-22-117(c)

  The putative father may have rights to revoke a notice of intent to claim paternity at any time.

• Registry Information Access:
  Statute: - § 1-22-117(e)
  • Any court can access information maintained in registry.
  • An Authorized agency can also access the registry information.
  • A person having a court order for good reason shown.
  Wyoming Adoption Laws | Page2