25-6-10.   Time of hearing on petition fixed--Investigation ordered by court. Whenever a person, or a husband and wife jointly, petition the circuit court for leave to adopt a minor child, the judge of the circuit court shall fix a time for hearing not less than ten days from the filing of such petition. The petition may be filed with the circuit court before the six-month period required by § 25-6-9 has passed. The circuit court may, in the case of a stepparent adopting a stepchild, and shall in all other cases, direct a court services officer or other officer of the court or an agent of the Department of Social Services or some other discreet and competent person to make a careful and thorough investigation of the matter and report such findings in writing to the court. A history of any previous child support obligations of each prospective adoptive parent shall be included in the investigative report.

Source: SDC 1939, § 14.0406; SL 1945, ch 47, § 1; SL 1947, ch 54; SL 1979, ch 167, § 1; SL 1990, ch 186; SL 2000, ch 117, § 1.

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