APPRENTICING AND ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.
[Sidenote: Minors.]
Any minor child may be bound to service until the attainment of the age
of legal majority as hereinafter described. [§3471.]
[Sidenote: Indenture.]
Such binding must be by written indenture, specifying the age of the
minor and the terms of agreement. If the minor is more than twelve years
of age and not a pauper, the indenture must be signed by him of his own
free will. [§3472.]
[Sidenote: Consent of parent or guardian.]
A written consent must be appended to or endorsed upon such agreement,
and signed by one of the following persons, to-wit:
1. By the father of the minor; but if he is dead or has abandoned his
family, or is for any cause incapacitated from giving his assent, then
2. By the mother; and if she be dead or unable, or incapacitated for
giving such assent, then,
3. By the guardian; and if there be no guardian, then by the clerk of
the district court. [§3473.]
[Sidenote: Natural guardian removed.]
Upon complaint being made to the district court of the proper county,
verified by affidavit, that the father or mother of a minor child is
from habitual intemperance and vicious and brutal conduct, or from
vicious, brutal and criminal conduct toward said minor child, an
unsuitable person to retain the guardianship and control the education
of such child, the court may, if it find the allegations in the
complaint manifestly true, appoint a proper guardian for the child, and
may if expedient, also direct that said child be bound as an apprentice
to some suitable person until he attains his majority. But nothing
herein shall be so construed as to take such minor child if the mother
be a proper guardian. [§3492.]
The same proceedings may take place and a like order be made, when the
mother, who for any cause became the guardian of her minor child, is in
like manner found to be manifestly an improper person to retain such
guardianship. [§3493.]
[Sidenote: Schooling and treatment of minors.]
The master shall send said minor child, after the same be six years old,
to school at least four months in each year, if there be a school in the
district, and at all times the master shall clothe the minor in a
comfortable and becoming manner. [§3497.]
[Sidenote: Adoption of children. Who may adopt.]
Any person competent to make a will is authorized in manner hereinafter
set forth, to adopt as his own the minor child of another, conferring
thereby upon such child all the rights, privileges and responsibilities
which would pertain to the child if born to the person adopting, in
lawful wedlock. [§3498.]
[Sidenote: Consent of parents or officer.]
In order thereto, the consent of both parents if living and not divorced
or separated, and if divorced or separated, or, if unmarried, the
consent of the parent lawfully having the care and providing for the
wants of the child, or if either parent is dead, then the consent of the
survivor, or if both parents be dead, or the child shall have been and
remain abandoned by them, then the consent of the mayor of the city
where the child is living, or if not in a city, then the clerk of the
district court of the county where the child is living, shall be given
to such adoption, by an instrument in writing signed by the parties or
party consenting, and stating the names of the parents, if known, the
name of the child, if known, the name of the person adopting such child,
and the residence of all, if known, and declaring the name by which such
child is hereafter to be called and known, and stating also that such
child is to be given to the person adopting, for the purpose of adoption
as his own child. [§3499]
[Sidenote: Instrument acknowledged and recorded.]
Such instrument in writing shall be also signed by the person adopting
and shall be acknowledged by all parties thereto in the same manner as
deeds affecting real estate are required to be acknowledged; and shall
be recorded in the recorder's office in the county where the person
adopting resides, and shall be indexed with the name of the parents by
adoption as grantors and the child as grantee, in its original name if
stated in the instrument, [§3500.] A strict compliance in every
particular with the provisions of the statutes is essential to
constitute a legal adoption and to confer upon the adopted child rights
of inheritance. If a minor child has a guardian his consent must be
obtained before the child can be legally adopted.
[Sidenote: Effect.]
Upon the execution, acknowledgment and filing for record of such
instrument, the rights, duties and relations between the parent and
child by adoption, shall, thereafter, in all respects, including the
right of inheritance, be the same that exists by law between parent and
child by lawful birth. [§3501]. The right of a child by adoption to
inherit from the parents by adoption, depends upon a strict compliance
with the requirements of the law in every particular, including the
acknowledgment and recording of the articles of adoption. It is also
essential that the instrument shall be filed for record before the death
of the adopted parent and while the child is a minor. A child by
adoption does not lose the right to inherit from his natural parents,
but is entitled to all rights of inheritance from both natural and
adopted parents.
[Sidenote: Maltreatment.]
In case of maltreatment committed or allowed by the adopted parent, or
palpable neglect of duty on his part, toward such child, the custody
thereof may be taken from him and entrusted to another at his expense,
if so ordered by the district court of the county where the parent
resides; or the court may, on showing of the facts, require from the
adopted parent, bond with security, in a sum to be fixed by him, the
county being the obligee, and for the benefit of the child, conditioned
for the proper treatment and performance of duty towards the child on
the part of the parent; but no action of the court in the premises shall
affect or diminish the acquired right of inheritance on the part of the
child, to the extent of such right in a child of natural birth. [§3502.]
[Sidenote: Home for the friendless Powers.]
Any home for the friendless incorporated under the laws of this state,
shall have authority to receive, control and dispose of minor children,
under the following provisions. In case of the death or legal incapacity
of the father, or in case of his abandoning or neglecting to provide for
his children, the mother shall be considered their legal guardian for
the purpose of making surrender of them to the charge and custody of
such corporation; and in all cases where the person or persons legally
authorized to act as the guardian or guardians of any child are not
known, the mayor of the town or city where such home is located, may, in
his discretion, surrender such child to said home. [§3503.]
[Sidenote: Surrender of child.]
In case it shall be shown to any judge of a court of record, or to the
mayor, or to any justice of the peace, within such city or town, that
the father of any child is dead, or has abandoned his family, or is an
habitual drunkard, or imprisoned for crime, and the mother of such child
is an habitual drunkard or is in prison for crime, or the inmate of a
house of ill-fame, or is dead or has abandoned her family, or that the
parents of any child have abandoned or neglected to provide for it, then
such judge, mayor, or justice of the peace may, if he thinks the welfare
of the child requires it, surrender such child to said home. [§3504]
[Sidenote: Home becomes guardian.]
When a child has been surrendered to any home for the friendless
according to the provisions of these sections, such home becomes the
legal guardian of such child, and may exercise the rights and authority
of parents over such children and may apprentice or provide for the
adoption of the same. [§3505.]