5320 Legal Risk Adoption Situations

1. The Child Welfare Case Management Provider may consider placement with a potential adoptive family prior to the time all legal issues pertaining to the termination of parental rights have been addressed.  
2. A legal risk placement may be considered when legal issues exist which delay DCF from being able to issue the Consent to Adopt, such as:
1. technical problems with legal document (i.e. Journal Entry has incorrect or missing information);
2. an appeal is filed but the court's decision is expected to be upheld.
3. A legal risk adoption shall not be considered in cases involving the Indian Child Welfare Act and when pre-adoptive parents are not relatives or currently licensed.
4. The Case Management Provider shall document the legal risk placement on the PPS 3051, Section VI.