NEBRASKA

Law 43-162
Chapter 43. Infants. Communication or contact agreement; authorized; approval.

The prospective adoptive parent or parents and the birth parent or parents of a prospective adoptee may enter into an agreement regarding communication or contact after the adoption between or among the prospective adoptee and his or her birth parent or parents if the prospective adoptee is in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. Any such agreement shall not be enforceable unless approved by the county court pursuant to section 43-163.

Law 43-163
Chapter 43. Infants. Guardian ad litem; appointment; order approving agreement; considerations.

(1) Before approving an agreement under section 43-162, the county court shall appoint a guardian ad litem if the prospective adoptee is not already represented by a guardian ad litem, and the guardian ad litem of the prospective adoptee shall represent the best interests of the child concerning such agreement. The county court may enter an order approving the agreement upon motion of one of the prospective adoptee's birth parents or one of the prospective adoptive parents if the terms of the agreement are approved in writing by the prospective adoptive parent or parents and the birth parent or parents and if the court finds, after consideration of the recommendations of the guardian ad litem and the Department of Health and Human Services and other factors, that such communication with the birth parent or parents and the maintenance of birth family history would be in the best interests of the prospective adoptee.

(2) In determining if the agreement is in the best interests of the prospective adoptee, the county court shall consider the following factors as favoring communication with the birth parent or parents: Whether the prospective adoptee and birth parent or parents lived together for a substantial period of time; the prospective adoptee exhibits attachment or bonding to such birth parent or parents; and the adoption is a foster-parent adoption with the birth parent or parents having relinquished the prospective adoptee due to an inability to provide him or her with adequate parenting.

Law 43-165
Chapter 43. Infants. Enforcement of order; modification; when.

An order entered pursuant to section 43-163 may be enforced by a civil action, and the prevailing party may be awarded, as part of the costs of the action, reasonable attorney's fees. The court shall not modify an order issued under such section unless it finds that the modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the adoptee and (1) that the modification is agreed to by the adoptive parent or parents and the birth parent or parents or (2) exceptional circumstances have arisen since the order was entered that justify modification of the order.

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COOPERATIVE ADOPTION STATUTES

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