Superior Court Rules Governing Adoption Proceedings – 2026
Adoption practice in the Family Court, from the petition through the interlocutory and final decrees. Rule 1 makes the civil rules applicable except as these rules provide, and the set carries the consent and revocation machinery — a motion to revoke consent under Rule 6 is the provision most often reached for. Proceedings are closed: Rule 20 limits who may be admitted.
Browse all 27 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.
Rule 1
Scope; Title; Applicability of Civil Rules
Rule 2
Definitions
Rule 3
Petition for Adoption; Related Cases; Initial Court Order
Rule 4
Notice of Adoption Proceeding; Serving the Notice and Initial Court Order;
Rule 4.1
Privacy Protections
Rule 5
Revoking Relinquishment of Parental Rights
Rule 6
Revoking Consent
Rule 7
Opposition to Adoption
Rule 8
Investigation and Final Report
Rule 9
Section-304 Hearing
Rule 10
Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
Rule 11
Initial Scheduling and Status Conference
Rule 12
Parties
Rule 13
Joinder or Intervention
Rule 14
Substitution of Parties
Rule 15
Court Authorization for Discovery or Subpoena
Rule 16
Assignment of Cases
Rule 17
Dismissal of Actions
Rule 18
Consolidation; Separate Trials
Rule 19
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law; Adoption Decree
Rule 20
Admission to Proceedings
Rule 21
Costs
Rule 22
Relief from a Decree or Order
Rule 23
Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment
Rule 24
Copies and Custody of Filed Papers; Confidentiality of Records
Rule 25
Recognition of Foreign Adoption; Elective Petition for Adoption Decree for
Rule 26
Petition to Break the Seal of Adoption