Cite as: 10 CNCA § 60.13

A. Upon the filing of a petition for adoption, the Court shall order or receive a preplacement investigation and report to be made by:

1. The agency having custody or legal guardianship of the child; or

2. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services; or

3. A licensed child-placing agency or certified adoption agency; or

4. A person qualified by training or experience, designated by the Court; or

5. Cherokee Nation.

B. The Court shall order that a report of such preplacement investigation be filed with the Court by the designated investigator within the time fixed by the Court and in no event more than sixty (60) days from the issuance of the order for preplacement investigation, unless time therefor is extended by the court.

C. The preplacement investigation shall include an appropriate inquiry to determine whether the proposed home is a suitable one for the child; and any other circumstances and conditions which may have a bearing on the adoption and of which the Court should have knowledge; and, in this entire matter of investigation, the Court is specifically authorized to exercise judicial knowledge and discretion.

D. A supplemental report including a determination as to the legal availability or status of the child for adoption shall be filed prior to the final adoption petition.

E. The Court may order agencies named in subsection (A) of this section located in one or more counties to make separate investigations on separate parts of the inquiry, as may be appropriate. Provided, that if the child petitioned to be adopted shall be the natural or adopted child of either of the petitioners then no investigation shall be made.

F. The report of such preplacement investigation shall become a part of the files in the case and shall contain a definite recommendation for or against the proposed adoption and the reasons therefor.