Vermont § 3-703 - Granting petition for adoption

§ 3-703. Granting petition for adoption

• (a) The court shall grant a petition for adoption if it determines by a preponderance
  of the evidence that the adoption will be in the best interests of the minor, and
  that: (1) the adoptee has been in the physical custody of the petitioner for at least 180 days
  unless the court for good cause shown waives this requirement; (2) notice of the proceeding for adoption has been served or dispensed with as to any
  person entitled to receive notice under Part 4 of this article; (3) every necessary consent, relinquishment, waiver, disclaimer of paternal interest,
  judicial order terminating parental rights, including an order issued under Part 5
  of this article, or other document has been obtained and filed with the court; (4) any evaluation required by this title has been filed with and considered by the court; (5) the petitioner is a suitable adoptive parent for the minor; (6) if applicable, any requirement of this title governing an interstate or intercountry
  placement for adoption has been met; (7) the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq., is not applicable to the proceeding or, if applicable, its requirements
  have been met; (8) an accounting and affidavit required by section 3-702 of this title has been reviewed by the court, and the court has denied, modified, or ordered reimbursement
  of any payment or disbursement that is not authorized by Article 7 of this title or
  is unreasonable or unnecessary when compared with the expenses customarily incurred
  in connection with an adoption; and (9) the petitioner has received each report required by section 2-105 of this title. (b) Notwithstanding a finding by the court that an activity prohibited by this title has
  occurred, if the court makes the determinations required by subsection (a) of this
  section, the court shall grant the petition for adoption and report the violation
  to the appropriate authorities or take other appropriate action. (c) Except as otherwise provided in Article 4 of this title, the court shall inform the
  petitioner and any other person affected by an existing order for visitation or communication
  with the minor adoptee that the decree of adoption terminates any existing order for
  visitation or communication. (Added 1995, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)