California Rules of Court 2024

Rule 5.451. Contact after adoption agreement

(a) Applicability of rule

This rule applies to any adoption of a child filed under Family Code section 8714, 8714.5, 8802, 8912, or 9000.

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2024; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2013.)

(b) Preparing the agreement

Any agreement must be prepared and submitted on Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-310) and include all terms required under section 8616.5

(Subd (b) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (c); previously amended effective January 1, 2003; and January 2013.)

(c) Enforcement, modification, or termination of the agreement

(1) The court that grants the petition for adoption and approves the contact after adoption agreement retains jurisdiction over the agreement.

(2) Any petition for enforcement of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

(3) Any petition for modification or termination of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

(Subd (c) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (d); previously amended effective July 1, 2001, January 1, 2003, July 1, 2003, January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2013.)

(d) Costs and fees

The fee for filing Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315) must not exceed the fee assessed for the filing of an adoption petition.

(Subd (d) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (e) previously amended effective July 1, 2001, January 1, 2003, July 1, 2003, and January 1, 2013.)

Rule 5.451 amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as rule 1180 effective July 1, 1998; previously amended and renumbered as rule 5.400 effective January 1, 2003; previously amended effective July 1, 2001, July 1, 2003;January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2018; previously renumbered effective January 1, 2013.