Art. 1220 Refusal of interlocutory or final decree

If a judge decides that an adoption through an agency is not the best choice for a child, the judge can refuse to approve it. This means the judge will not grant either a temporary (interlocutory) or final decree that would let the adoption move forward or become permanent.

When this happens, the judge has the power to take the child away from the people who wanted to adopt (the petitioners). The judge can then give custody back to whoever had legal custody of the child before, or the judge can name a new custodian to care for the child.

This rule gives the court a way to protect a child's wellbeing, even after an adoption process has started. It shows that the judge's main concern is always what is best for the child, not just approving the paperwork that petitioners have filed.