Okla. Stat. tit. 10, § 10-7505-6.3

interlocutory decree and waiting period - Notice of hearing -

Appearance - Entry of final decree.

A. After six (6) months from the date of the interlocutory

decree unless the court waived all or part of the waiting period,

the petitioners may apply to the court for a final decree of

adoption. The court shall thereupon set a time and place for final

hearing.

B. If the minor is related by blood to one of the petitioners,

or is a stepchild of the petitioner, or the court finds that the

best interests of the child will be furthered thereby, the court,

after examination of the home study reports required by Section

7505-5.1 or 7505-5.2 of this title, may waive the entry of an

interlocutory decree and the waiting period of six (6) months or the

balance of the waiting period provided in this section.

C. Notice of the time and date of the hearing shall be served

at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing upon any parent whose

parental rights have not been terminated, unless that parent has

properly executed a consent to the adoption or a permanent

relinquishment pursuant to Sections 7503-2.3, 7503-2.4 and 7503-2.6

of this title or has waived the right to notice pursuant to Section

7503-3.1 of this title. Notice of the hearing shall also be served

on the child-placing agency or the Department of Human Services in

those cases where the child-placing agency or Department has

original custody, or performed a home study.

D. The petitioners and child shall appear at the hearing on the

application for final decree, unless the presence of the child is

waived by the court.

E. The final hearing is not required to be recorded by a court

reporter. Upon the request of any party, the court shall direct

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10. Children Page 364

that the hearing be recorded by the court reporter, or the court may

order on its own initiative that the hearing be recorded.

F. The court may enter a final decree of adoption, if the court

is satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the

child.

G. For purposes of this subsection, the State of Oklahoma

elects to make subparagraph (A) of paragraph 20 of subsection 3 of

Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (Public Law 105-89)

inapplicable to Oklahoma. Instead, the State of Oklahoma requires

that:

1. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a

prospective adoptive parent shall not be approved for placement of a

child if the petitioners or any other person residing in the home of

the petitioners has been convicted of any of the following felony

offenses:

a. within the five-year period preceding the date of the

petition, physical assault, domestic abuse, battery or

a drug-related offense, except as otherwise authorized

by this subsection,

b. child abuse or neglect,

c. a crime against a child, including, but not limited

to, child sexual abuse material, and

d. a crime involving violence, including, but not limited

to, rape, sexual assault or homicide, but excluding

physical assault or battery.

2. A prospective adoptive parent may be an approved placement

regardless of whether such parent has been convicted of any of the

felony offenses specified by subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of this

subsection, if an evaluation has been made and accepted by the court

which considers the nature and seriousness of the crime in relation

to the adoption, the time elapsed since the commission of the crime,

the circumstances under which the crime was committed, the degree of

rehabilitation, the number of crimes committed by the person

involved, and a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the

child will not be at risk by such placement.

H. Under no circumstances shall a child be placed in the

custody of an individual subject to the Oklahoma Sex Offenders

Registration Act or an individual who is married to or living with

an individual subject to the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration

Act.