South Carolina's Laws Regarding Adoptions Records
South Carolina
Statute: §§ 20-7-680(F);
20-7-609(A)-(J),(M)
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
• CPS/State Agencies
• Agencies From Other States
• Courts/Judges
• Grand Juries
• Law Enforcement
• Attorneys General/Prosecutors
• Attorneys, GAL's
• Physicians
• Reporters of Abuse
• Researchers
• Employers
• Parents/Guardians
• Coroners
• Review Teams
• Treatment Providers
• Subject of Reports
Persons without access to records
• Public/Any Person
Other Governor's
office or ombudsman Investigators Child-caring and child-placing agencies
Prospective adoptive and foster parents Foster care review boards Participants
in a family group conference The media in cases where information has already
been placed in the public domain by other officials
Decision-Making for the Permanent Placement of Children
Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:
- Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12
months thereafter
- Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not
required
Persons Entitled to Attend Hearings
Citation: § 40-11.12.1
- All parties
- The foster parents
- Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child
Determinations Made at Hearings
Citation: § 40-11.12.1
- The appropriateness of the service plan
- What services have been offered
- Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child
Permanency Options
Citation: § 40-11.12.2
- Return to the parent
- Adoption
- Legal guardianship
- Placement with a fit and willing relative
- Another planned permanent living arrangement
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.
American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.