Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 259 — Change Of Name, Adoption
Section 259.29 — Protection Of Best Interests In Adoptive Placements.

259.29 MS 1992 [Renumbered 259.59] 259.29 PROTECTION OF BEST INTERESTS IN ADOPTIVE PLACEMENTS.
Subdivision 1. Best interests of the child. (a) The policy of the state of Minnesota is to ensure that the best interests of the child are met by requiring individualized determination of the needs of the child and of how the adoptive placement will serve the needs of the child.
(b) Among the factors the agency shall consider in determining the needs of the child are those specified under section 260C.193, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).
(c) Except for emergency placements provided for in section 245A.035, a completed background study is required under section 245C.33 before the approval of an adoptive placement in a home.
Subd. 2. Placement with relative or friend. The authorized child-placing agency shall consider placement, consistent with the child's best interests and in the following order, with (1) a relative or relatives of the child, or (2) an important friend with whom the child has resided or had significant contact. In implementing this section, an authorized child-placing agency may disclose private or confidential data, as defined in section 13.02, to relatives of the child for the purpose of locating a suitable adoptive home. The agency shall disclose only data that is necessary to facilitate implementing the preference.
If the child's birth parent or parents explicitly request that placement with a specific relative or important friend not be considered, the authorized child-placing agency shall honor that request if it is consistent with the best interests of the child and consistent with the requirements of sections 260C.212, subdivision 2, and 260C.221.
If the child's birth parent or parents express a preference for placing the child in an adoptive home of the same or a similar religious background to that of the birth parent or parents, the agency shall place the child with a family that meets the birth parent's religious preference.
This subdivision does not affect the Indian Child Welfare Act, United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1923, and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, sections 260.751 to 260.835.
1983 c 278 s 7; 1992 c 557 s 4; 1993 c 291 s 10; 1994 c 598 s 5; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1996 c 416 s 10; 1997 c 86 s 9; 1999 c 139 art 4 s 2; 2007 c 147 art 3 s 25; 2012 c 216 art 1 s 13

Structure Minnesota Statutes

Minnesota Statutes

Chapters 245 - 267 — Public Welfare And Related Activities

Chapter 259 — Change Of Name, Adoption

Section 259.10 — General Requirements.

Section 259.11 — Order; Filing Copies.

Section 259.115 — Criminal Penalties.

Section 259.12 — Correctional Inmates; Name Changes; Limited.

Section 259.13 — Persons With Felony Conviction; Name Changes.

Section 259.20 — Policy.

Section 259.21 — Definitions.

Section 259.22 — Petition.

Section 259.23 — Juvenile Court, Jurisdiction.

Section 259.24 — Consents.

Section 259.241 — Adult Adoption.

Section 259.25 — Agreement Conferring Authority To Place For Adoption.

Section 259.27 — Notification Of Death Or Terminal Illness.

Section 259.29 — Protection Of Best Interests In Adoptive Placements.

Section 259.31 — Agency Placement Factors.

Section 259.35 — Notice To Adoptive Parents.

Section 259.37 — Agency; Fee Schedule; Disclosure; Civil Action.

Section 259.39 — Commissioner's Statement.

Section 259.41 — Adoption Study.

Section 259.43 — Birth Parent History; Commissioner's Form.

Section 259.45 — State Audit Of Adoption Agency; Civil Action.

Section 259.47 — Direct Adoptive Placement.

Section 259.49 — Notice, Hearing On Petition.

Section 259.52 — Fathers' Adoption Registry.

Section 259.53 — Petition; Investigations; Reports.

Section 259.55 — Payment Of Birth Parent Expenses; Penalty.

Section 259.57 — Hearing, Decree.

Section 259.58 — Communication Or Contact Agreements.

Section 259.59 — Effect Of Adoption.

Section 259.60 — Intercountry Adoptions; Obtaining Amended Birth Record.

Section 259.61 — Hearings, Confidential.

Section 259.63 — Appeals.

Section 259.65 — Appointment Of Attorney And Guardian Ad Litem.

Section 259.73 — Reimbursement Of Nonrecurring Adoption Expenses.

Section 259.75 — State Adoption Exchange.

Section 259.77 — Family Recruitment.

Section 259.78 — Grandparent Visitation.

Section 259.79 — Adoption Records.

Section 259.81 — Referral For Services.

Section 259.83 — Postadoption Services.

Section 259.87 — Rules.

Section 259.88 — Data And Best Practices.

Section 259.89 — Access To Original Birth Record Information.