Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements - Maine

Use of Advertisement

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 18-C, § 9-313

The term 'advertise' means to communicate by any public medium that originates within this State, including by newspaper, periodical, telephone book listing, outdoor advertising sign, radio, television, or by any computerized communication system, including by email, website, internet account, or any similar medium of communication provided via the internet. The term 'internet account' means an account created within a bounded system established by an internet-based service that requires a user to input or store access information in an electronic device in order to view, create, use, or edit the user's account information, profile, display, communications, or stored data.

A person may not do any of the following:

• Advertise for the purpose of finding a child to adopt or to otherwise take into permanent physical custody
• Advertise that the person will place a child for adoption or in any other permanent physical placement
• Advertise for the purpose of finding a person to adopt or otherwise take into permanent custody a particular child

This section does not prohibit either of the following:

• The Department of Health and Human Services or a child-placing agency from advertising in accordance with rules adopted by the department
• An attorney licensed to practice in this State from advertising the attorney's availability to practice or provide services relating to the adoption of children

Use of Intermediaries/Facilitators

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 18-C, § 9-313

A person may not advertise that the person will find an adoptive home or any other permanent physical placement for a child or arrange for or assist in the adoption, adoptive placement, or any other permanent physical placement of a child.