Cal. Fam. Code § 8524 : CALIFORNIA FAMILY CODE — ADOPTION — DEFINITIONS — Independent adoption TEXT PDF "Independent adoption" means the adoption of a child in which neither the department, county adoption agency, nor agency licensed by the department is a party to, or joins in, the adoption petition. Ca. Fam. Code § 8524 Amended by Stats 2012 ch 35 (SB 1013),s 7, eff. 6/27/2012.