California · Family Code
FAM §8803: (a) During the pendency of an adoption proceeding: (1) The child proposed to be adopted shall not be concealed from the agency that is investigating the adoption, or from the court with jurisdiction o
What this law says, in plain English
During adoption proceedings, a child cannot be concealed from the investigating agency or court, and cannot be removed from the petitioner's county without court permission after notice, except for brief absences or return to birth parents. Violations constitute a Penal Code Section 280 offense.
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.