Changes to Existing Law

Whenever a person, or a husband and wife persons jointly, petition the circuit court for leave to adopt a minor child, the judge of the circuit court shall must fix a time for hearing not less than ten days from the filing of such the petition. The petition may be filed A petitioner may file the petition with the circuit court before the six-month period required by § 25-6-9 has passed. The circuit court may, in the case of a stepparent adopting a stepchild, and shall in all other cases, direct a court services officer or other officer of the court or an agent of the Department of Social Services or some other discreet and another competent person to make a careful and thorough investigation of the matter and report such the findings in writing to the court. A The investigative report must include the history of any previous child support obligations of each prospective adoptive parent shall be included in the investigative report. 15