In addition to following South Carolina Termination of Parental Right Statutes under Section 63-7-2570 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended, or the Notification Statute under Section 63-9-730 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended to terminate an Indian parent’s rights, the petitioners must follow the requirements of the ICWA.

Specifically

In South Carolina, "[a]ny South Carolina resident may petition the court to adopt a child." The minor, it seems, can at least petition the court to adopt a child.

In all adoption cases the child being adopted is appointed a guardian ad litem to protect his interest. The guardian will report to the judge whether

Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA) and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) may apply to your termination of parental rights cause of action if an order for visitation and/or custody was entered in another state.

You are only required to file a termination of parental rights cause of action if anyone who

Below is a checklist required for Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. I use this checklist with all my adoption files. The checklist is simple to use and covers most requirements of the court.  Another helpful checklist I found can be viewed here; this checklist has outdated code section in it. One suggestion before attempting an adoption in a

If you are related to the child you are adopting, you may be able to receive financial assistance through DSS.

A child may receive an adoption subsidy if the child has special needs, is legally free for adoption and the adoptive family cannot adopt the child without the financial assistance. The child must meet one

“In South Carolina, there is a common law presumption that a child born during lawful wedlock is a child of the marriage.”  Fisher v. Tucker, 388 S.C. 388, 697 S.E.2d 548 (S.C. 2010).

“No judgment of divorce from the bonds of matrimony shall render illegitimate the child begotten of the marriage.” Section 20-3-200

One of the Court’s requirements to finalize an interstate adoption is a letter of compliance from the ICPC office. The last document you should send to the ICPC office prior to your final hearing is the post-placement home study; request your letter of compliance upon submitting the post-placement home study and file the letter with the court