Pa. Cons. Stat. » 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. (DOMESTIC RELATIONS) / Chapter 29
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2902 (2026)

 Requirements and form of decree of adoption.

✓ current as of May 2026
Coverage note: this corpus holds the consolidated Pa.C.S. titles only. Unconsolidated P.S. statutes (UTPCPL 73 P.S. § 201-1, Liquor Code, wage payment laws) are not included; a miss here does not mean the statute does not exist. Check palegis.us.
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section PA-LEGpalegis.us JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

§ 2902.  Requirements and form of decree of adoption.

(a)  General rule.--If satisfied that the statements made in the petition are true, that the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be adopted will be promoted by the adoption and that all requirements of this part have been met, the court shall enter a decree so finding and directing that the person proposed to be adopted shall have all the rights of a child and heir of the adopting parent or parents and shall be subject to the duties of a child to him or them.

(b)  Withdrawal or dismissal of petition.--In any case in which the petition is withdrawn or dismissed, the court shall enter an appropriate order in regard to the custody of the child.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1985–2024 · leading case: In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992). · cites it 4× “23 Pa.C.S. § 2902 (emphasis added). [6] Indeed, our society has many examples of grandparents successfully raising their grandchildren.”
In Re Adoption of R.J.S., 889 A.2d 92 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005). · cites it 2× “Moreover, pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), statements made in an adoption petition must be true, and it must be shown that “the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be adopted will be promoted by the adoption.”
In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 902 A.2d 402 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 2× “2d at 13 , citing 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a). See also Hess, 608 A.”
Russell v. Bridgens, 647 N.W.2d 56 (Neb. 2002). · cites it 2× “23 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 2902 (West 2001).”
In Re Baby Girl D., 517 A.2d 925 (Pa. 1986). · cites it 2× “[5] Out of concern that wealth may become the only consideration, the majority reasons that the needs and welfare of children in general, not the particular children here involved, will be promoted, pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902, by not placing them in homes on the basis of…”
In Re Est. of Ogden, 509 A.2d 1271 (Pa. 1986). “This policy in unequivocally expressed in the wording of the Order and Decree made by the courts of this Commonwealth upon the adoption of a child.”
In Re: B.N.M. Appeal of: K.H. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), the trial court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child’s needs and welfare.”
In Re: Adoption of: B.N.M., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), the trial court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child’s needs and welfare.”
In the Interest of: N.C.M.L. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “1996) (citations omitted); see also 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a). 9 Act 160 of 2004 refers to the Child Protective Services Law ("CPSL"), 23 Pa.”
In the Interest of: Z.B., Appeal of: C.B. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), the orphans’ court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child’s needs and welfare: -5- J-S65017-19 If satisfied that the statements made in the petition are true, that the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be…”
In the Int. of: N.M.J., Appeal of: B.P. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “§ 2902(a), the orphans' court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child's needs and welfare: If satisfied that the statements made in the petition are true, that the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be adopted will be promoted by the…”
In Re Est. of Kauffman, 506 A.2d 951 (Pa. 1986). “” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a). The Tafel court stated that: Beginning with the first adoption statute of 1855, on eight occasions whenever the legislature has spoken on the effect of an adoption once decreed, the legislature has expressly, specifically and unequivocally mandated that…”
Show all 23 citing cases →
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2902(a) — 18 cases
In Re Adoption of R.J.S., 889 A.2d 92 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005). “Moreover, pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), statements made in an adoption petition must be true, and it must be shown that “the needs and welfare of the person proposed to be adopted will be promoted by the adoption.”
In Re Adoption of J.E.F., 902 A.2d 402 (Pa. 2006). “2d at 13 , citing 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a). See also Hess, 608 A.”
In Re Adoption of Hess, 608 A.2d 10 (Pa. 1992). “23 Pa.C.S. § 2902 (emphasis added). [6] Indeed, our society has many examples of grandparents successfully raising their grandchildren.”
In Re: B.N.M. Appeal of: K.H. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), the trial court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child’s needs and welfare.”
In Re: Adoption of: B.N.M., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2902(a), the trial court must determine whether the proposed adoption would promote the child’s needs and welfare.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.