(a) After a petition for adoption of a minor stepchild is filed, the court may order that an evaluation be made by a person qualified under section 2-202 of this title to assist the court in determining whether the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the minor.

(b) The court shall provide an evaluator with copies of the petition for adoption and of the items filed with the petition.

(c) Unless otherwise directed by the court, an evaluator shall base the evaluation on a personal interview with the petitioner and the petitioner's spouse in the petitioner's residence, observation of the relationship between the minor and the petitioner, a personal interview with others who know the petitioner and may have information relevant to the examination, and any information received pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.

(d) An evaluation under this section shall be in writing and contain the following:

(e) Subsection 3-603(b) of this title shall apply to an evaluation under this section.

(f) If the court does not order an evaluation, the preference of the minor who is less than 14 years old shall be taken into consideration, if the minor is mature enough to express a preference.

(g) Whether or not an evaluation is ordered, the court shall obtain the information required by subdivisions 2-203(d)(7)-(9).

(h) The court may charge a reasonable fee for services it performs pursuant to this section. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)