Section 9003 Of Chapter 5. Stepparent Adoptions From California Family Law Code >> Division 13. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 5.
9003
. (a) In a stepparent adoption, the consent of either or both
birth parents shall be signed in the presence of a notary public,
court clerk, probation officer, qualified court investigator,
authorized representative of a licensed adoption agency, or county
welfare department staff member of any county of this state. The
petitioner, petitioner's counsel, or person before whom the consent
is signed shall immediately file the consent with the clerk of the
court where the adoption request is filed. If the request has not
been filed at the time the consent has been signed, the consent shall
be filed simultaneously with the adoption request. Upon filing of
the adoption request, the clerk shall immediately notify the
probation officer or, at the option of the board of supervisors, the
county welfare department of that county.
(b) If the birth parent of a child to be adopted is outside this
state at the time of signing the consent, the consent may be signed
before an authorized representative of an adoption agency licensed in
the state or country where the consent is being signed, a notary, or
other person authorized to perform notarial acts.
(c) The consent, when reciting that the person giving it is
entitled to sole custody of the child and when acknowledged before
any authorized witness specified in subdivision (a), is prima facie
evidence of the right of the person signing the consent to the sole
custody of the child and that person's sole right to consent.
(d) A birth parent who is a minor has the right to sign a consent
for the adoption of the birth parent's child and the consent is not
subject to revocation by reason of the minority.