Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2531 (2026)

 Report of intention to adopt.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 2531.  Report of intention to adopt.

(a)  General rule.--Every person now having or hereafter receiving or retaining custody or physical care of any child for the purpose or with the intention of adopting a child under the age of 18 years shall report to the court in which the petition for adoption will be filed.

(b)  Contents.--The report shall set forth:

(1)  The circumstances surrounding the persons receiving or retaining custody or physical care of the child, including the date upon which a preplacement investigation was concluded.

(2)  The name, sex, racial background, age, date and place of birth and religious affiliation of the child.

(3)  The name and address of the intermediary.

(4)  An itemized accounting of moneys and consideration paid or to be paid to the intermediary.

(5)  Whether the parent or parents whose parental rights are to be terminated have received counseling with respect to the termination and the alternatives thereto. If so, the report shall state the dates on which the counseling was provided and the name and address of the counselor or agency which provided the counseling.

(6)  The name, address and signature of the person or persons making the report. Immediately above the signature of the person or persons intending to adopt the child shall appear the following statement:

I acknowledge that I have been advised or know and understand that the birth father or putative father may revoke the consent to the adoption of this child within 30 days after the later of the birth of the child or the date he has executed the consent to an adoption and that the birth mother may revoke the consent to an adoption of this child within 30 days after the date she has executed the consent.

(7)  A copy of the preplacement report prepared pursuant to section 2530 (relating to home study and preplacement report).

When a person receives or retains custody or physical care of a child from an agency, the report shall set forth only the name and address of the agency, the circumstances surrounding such person receiving or retaining custody or physical care of the child and a copy of the preplacement report prepared pursuant to section 2530.

(c)  When report not required.--No report shall be required when the child is the child, grandchild, stepchild, brother or sister of the whole or half blood, or niece or nephew by blood, marriage or adoption of the person receiving or retaining custody or physical care.

(June 23, 1982, P.L.617, No.174, eff. 60 days; May 21, 1992, P.L.228, No.34, eff. 60 days; Mar. 24, 2004, P.L.159, No.21, eff. 60 days)

 

2004 Amendment.  Act 21 amended subsec. (b)(6). Section 2 of Act 21 provided that the amendment of subsec. (b)(6) shall apply to adoptions which are initiated on or after the effective date of section 2.

1992 Amendment.  Act 34 amended subsec. (b).

Cross References.  Section 2531 is referred to in sections 2302, 2502, 2505, 2512, 2532, 2535, 2701 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1986–2024 · leading case: In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 902 A.2d 402 (Pa. 2006).
In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 902 A.2d 402 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 4× “, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). [12] We simply hold that a custodial agency's refusal to consent to an adoption does not, on its own, deprive a person who otherwise has a stake in the litigation standing to pursue that interest.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992). · cites it 4× “23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). A report is also filed by the intermediary who arranged the adoption, and an investigation is conducted to determine the suitability of the adoption.”
In Re Baby Girl D., 517 A.2d 925 (Pa. 1986). · cites it 6× “…Petition for Adoption, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2701 and 2702, the Act requires two reports: a report of intention to adopt, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531 and 2532, to be filed by the person intending to adopt a child within thirty days after receiving custody of the child, and a report of the…”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 636 A.2d 1157 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). · cites it 4× “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 656 A.2d 1346 (Pa. 1995). · cites it 3× “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
Gibbs v. Ernst, 647 A.2d 882 (Pa. 1994). “9 Any person intending to adopt a child must file a Report of Intention to Adopt, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531 10 , within six months of which the intermediary must *205 respond by reporting to the court information specifically required by 23 Pa.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 562 A.2d 1375 (Pa. 1989). · cites it 2× “23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). That a decree terminating parental rights affects only the rights of the parents of a child, and not other relations of the child, is especially apparent when one considers that in many instances where the natural parents' rights have been terminated or…”
In the Interest of G.C., 673 A.2d 932 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which concerns adoption, "[e]very person now having or hereafter receiving or retaining custody or physical care of any child for the purpose or with the intention of adopting a child under the age of 18 years shall report to the court in which…”
In re Adoption of W.C.K., 748 A.2d 223 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). “” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(b)(7). A pre-placement report is to be prepared by the agency or person conducting the “home study.”
In Re Adoption of B.E.W.G., 549 A.2d 1286 (Pa. 1988). “On May 16, 1984, the adopting parents filed a report of their intention to adopt the children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531; and on June 4, 1984, a petition for adoption was filed.”
In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 864 A.2d 1207 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004). “]” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). That a decree terminating parental rights affects only the rights of the parents of a child, and not other relations of the child, is especially apparent when one considers that in many instances where the natural parents’ rights have been terminated or…”
In Re the Adoption of A.M.T., 803 A.2d 203 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2002). “The Adoption Act also not only does not prohibit biological relatives from filing a petition for adoption , after parental rights have been terminated, but expressly excuses certain biological relatives, including grandparents [and as in this case, aunts and uncles], from the…”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2531(a) — 7 cases
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 656 A.2d 1346 (Pa. 1995). “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 636 A.2d 1157 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
In the Interest of G.C., 673 A.2d 932 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which concerns adoption, "[e]very person now having or hereafter receiving or retaining custody or physical care of any child for the purpose or with the intention of adopting a child under the age of 18 years shall report to the court in which…”
In Re Adoption of S.C.P., 527 A.2d 1052 (Pa. 1987).
In re Adoption of Z.S.H.G., 34 A.3d 1281 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2531(b)(4) — 1 case
In Re Baby Girl D., 517 A.2d 925 (Pa. 1986). “…Petition for Adoption, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2701 and 2702, the Act requires two reports: a report of intention to adopt, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531 and 2532, to be filed by the person intending to adopt a child within thirty days after receiving custody of the child, and a report of the…”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2531(b)(7) — 1 case
In re Adoption of W.C.K., 748 A.2d 223 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). “” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(b)(7). A pre-placement report is to be prepared by the agency or person conducting the “home study.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2531(c) — 14 cases
In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 902 A.2d 402 (Pa. 2006). “, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). [12] We simply hold that a custodial agency's refusal to consent to an adoption does not, on its own, deprive a person who otherwise has a stake in the litigation standing to pursue that interest.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992). “23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). A report is also filed by the intermediary who arranged the adoption, and an investigation is conducted to determine the suitability of the adoption.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 562 A.2d 1375 (Pa. 1989). “23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(c). That a decree terminating parental rights affects only the rights of the parents of a child, and not other relations of the child, is especially apparent when one considers that in many instances where the natural parents' rights have been terminated or…”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 636 A.2d 1157 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
Chester Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Cunningham, 656 A.2d 1346 (Pa. 1995). “that 23 Pa.C.S. § 2531(a), which describes who may file a report of intention to adopt, does not encompass foster parents.”
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