Section 8502 Of Part 1. Definitions From California Family Law Code >> Division 13. >> Part 1.
8502
. (a) "Adoption service provider" means any of the following:
(1) A licensed private adoption agency.
(2) An individual who has presented satisfactory evidence to the
department that he or she is a licensed clinical social worker who
also has a minimum of five years of experience providing professional
social work services while employed by a licensed California
adoption agency or the department.
(3) In a state other than California, or a country other than the
United States, an adoption agency licensed or otherwise approved
under the laws of that state or country, or an individual who is
licensed or otherwise certified as a clinical social worker under the
laws of that state or country.
(4) An individual who has presented satisfactory evidence to the
department that he or she is a licensed marriage and family therapist
who has a minimum of five years of experience providing professional
adoption casework services while employed by a licensed California
adoption agency or the department. The department shall review the
qualifications of each individual to determine if he or she has
performed professional adoption casework services for five years as
required by this section while employed by a licensed California
adoption agency or the department.
(b) If, in the case of a birth parent located in California, at
least three adoption service providers are not reasonably available,
or, in the case of a birth parent located outside of California or
outside of the United States who has contacted at least three
potential adoption service providers and been unsuccessful in
obtaining the services of an adoption service provider who is
reasonably available and willing to provide services, independent
legal counsel for the birth parent may serve as an adoption service
provider pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 8801.5. "Reasonably
available" means that an adoption service provider is all of the
following:
(1) Available within five days for an advisement of rights
pursuant to Section 8801.5, or within 24 hours for the signing of the
placement agreement pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of
Section 8801.3.
(2) Within 100 miles of the birth mother.
(3) Available for a cost not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500)
to make an advisement of rights and to witness the signing of the
placement agreement.
(c) Where an attorney acts as an adoption service provider, the
fee to make an advisement of rights and to witness the signing of the
placement agreement shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500).