8-117

8-117. Rights under adoption order

A. On entry of the decree of adoption, the relationship of parent and child and all
the legal rights, privileges, duties, obligations and other legal consequences of the
natural relationship of child and parent thereafter exist between the adopted child and
the adoptive parent as though the child were born to the adoptive parent in lawful
wedlock. The adopted child is entitled to inherit real and personal property from and
through the adoptive parent and the adoptive parent is entitled to inherit real and
personal property from and through the adopted child the same as though the child were
born to the adoptive parent in lawful wedlock.

B. On entry of the decree of adoption, the relationship of parent and child between
the adopted child and the persons who were the child's parents before entry of the decree
of adoption is completely severed and all the legal rights, privileges, duties,
obligations and other legal consequences of the relationship cease to exist, including
the right of inheritance. This subsection does not apply to communication rights
established pursuant to section 8-116.01.

C. If the adoption is by the spouse of the child's parent, the relationship of the
child to that parent remains unchanged by the decree of adoption.