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Court Rules

California Rules of Court

Rule 5.451. Contact after adoption agreement

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.451

Current text effective January 1, 2024.

#(a) Applicability of rule

This rule applies to any adoption of a child filed under Family Code section 8714, 8714.5, 8802, 8912, or 9000.

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(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2024; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2013.)

#(b) Preparing the agreement

Any agreement must be prepared and submitted on Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-310) and include all terms required under section 8616.5

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(Subd (b) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (c); previously amended effective January 1, 2003; and January 2013.)

#(c) Enforcement, modification, or termination of the agreement

#(1) The court that grants the petition for adoption and approves the contact after adoption agreement retains jurisdiction over the agreement.

#(2) Any petition for enforcement of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

#(3) Any petition for modification or termination of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

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(Subd (c) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (d); previously amended effective July 1, 2001, January 1, 2003, July 1, 2003, January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2013.)

#(d) Costs and fees

The fee for filing Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315) must not exceed the fee assessed for the filing of an adoption petition.

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(Subd (d) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (e) previously amended effective July 1, 2001, January 1, 2003, July 1, 2003, and January 1, 2013.)

#History

Rule 5.451 amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as rule 1180 effective July 1, 1998; previously amended and renumbered as rule 5.400 effective January 1, 2003; previously amended effective July 1, 2001, July 1, 2003;January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2018; previously renumbered effective January 1, 2013.

What this rule requires

Filing Fees and Waivers

  • The fee for filing Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315) must not exceed the fee assessed for the filing of an adoption petition.

Document Filing Requirements

  • Any agreement must be prepared and submitted on Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-310) and include all terms required under section 8616.5

  • Any petition for enforcement of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

  • Any petition for modification or termination of an agreement must be filed on Request to: Enforce, Change, End Contact After Adoption Agreement (form ADOPT-315).

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.