Section 7893 Of Article 7. Hearing And Subsequent Proceedings From California Family Law Code >> Division 12. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 7.
7893
. (a) If the court, by order or judgment, declares a child free
from the custody and control of both parents under this part, or one
parent if the other no longer has custody and control, the court
shall at the same time take one of the following actions:
(1) Appoint a guardian for the child.
(2) At the request of the State Department of Social Services or a
licensed adoption agency, or where the court finds it is in the
child's best interest, refer the child to a licensed adoption agency
for adoptive placement by the agency.
(b) When the court refers the child to a licensed adoption agency
for adoptive placement by the agency:
(1) The agency is responsible for the care of the child and is
entitled to the exclusive custody and control of the child at all
times until a petition for adoption has been granted.
(2) After the referral, no petition for guardianship may be filed
without the consent of the agency.
(3) No petition for adoption may be heard until the appellate
rights of the natural parents have been exhausted.