1. If the court finds that the best interests of the child warrant the granting of the petition, an order or decree of adoption must be made and filed, ordering that henceforth the child is the child of the petitioners. When determining whether the best interests of the child warrant the granting of a petition that is filed by a foster parent, the court shall give strong consideration to the emotional bond between the child and the foster parent. A copy of the order or decree must be sent to the nearest office of the agency which provides child welfare services by the petitioners within 7 days after the order or decree is issued. In the decree the court may change the name of the child, if desired.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an order or decree of adoption may not be made until after the child has lived for 6 months in the home of the petitioners. This subsection does not apply if one of the petitioners is the stepparent of the child or is related to the child within the third degree of consanguinity.

3. If the court is not satisfied that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the child, the court shall deny the petition and may order the child returned to the custody of the person or agency legally vested with custody. The court shall not deny a petition solely because the petitioner:

(a) Is deaf, is blind or has another physical disability; or

(b) Is the holder of a valid registry identification card.

4. After a petition for adoption has been granted, there is a presumption that remaining in the home of the adopting parent is in the child’s best interest.

5. As used in this section:

(a) “Blind” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.082.

(b) “Holder of a valid registry identification card” means a person who holds a valid registry identification card as defined in NRS 453A.140 that identifies the person as:

(1) Exempt from state prosecution for engaging in the medical use of cannabis; or

(2) A designated primary caregiver as defined in NRS 453A.080.

[15:332:1953] — (NRS A 1961, 739; 1989, 1134; 1993, 2683; 1995, 734; 1999, 2026; 2001 Special Session, 5; 2015, 420; 2019, 2757, effective July 1, 2020)