§9-315. Annulment of the adoption decree
1. Annulment; reasons and limitations. A court may, on petition filed within one year of the decree of adoption and after notice and hearing, reverse and annul an adoption decree based on findings by clear and convincing evidence that the adoption was obtained as a result of fraud, duress or illegal procedures.
A. If the adoptee is a minor, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem on behalf of the minor adoptee and shall consider the best interest of the child, taking into account the factors set forth in Title 19‑A, section 1653, subsection 3. The court shall sustain the decree unless there is clear and convincing evidence of one or more bases for annulment and that the decree is not in the best interest of the child.
The court may allocate the costs of the guardian ad litem to one or more of the parties and may appoint counsel for a minor adoptee or a party to the annulment proceedings. A minor adoptee may appear and be represented by counsel. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. Subject to the disposition of an appeal, upon the expiration of one year after an adoption decree is issued, the decree may not be questioned by any person including the petitioner, in any manner upon any ground, including fraud, misrepresentation, failure to give any required notice or lack of jurisdiction of the parties or of the subject matter. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
2. Notice. Notice of a petition to annul must be given to the parents, except those whose parental rights were terminated through a proceeding pursuant to Title 22, section 4055, subsection 1, paragraph B, subparagraph (2), and to all parties to the adoption including the adoptive parents, an adoptee who is 14 years of age or older and the agency involved in the adoption.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
3. Certified copy of annulment. After the court annuls a decree of adoption, the register shall transmit immediately a certified copy of the annulment to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).