Florida Statutes 63.112 – Petition for adoption; description; report or recommendation, exceptions; mailing
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(1) The petition for adoption shall be signed and verified by the petitioner and filed with the clerk of the court and shall state:
(a) The date and place of birth of the person to be adopted, if known;
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 63.112
- Adoption: means the act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child where it did not exist, thereby declaring the child to be legally the child of the adoptive parents and their heir at law and entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the obligations of a child born to such adoptive parents in lawful wedlock. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Adoption entity: means the department, a child-caring agency registered under…. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Adult: means a person who is not a minor. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Agency: means any child-placing agency licensed by the department pursuant to…. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Child: means any unmarried person under the age of 18 years who has not been emancipated by court order. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Court: means a circuit court of this state and, if the context requires, the court of any state that is empowered to grant petitions for adoption. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Department: means the Department of Children and Families. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- minor: includes any person who has not attained the age of 18 years. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Person: includes a natural person, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, or association, and any other legal entity. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Placement: means the process of a parent or legal guardian surrendering a child for adoption and the prospective adoptive parents receiving and adopting the child and all actions by any adoption entity participating in placing the child. See Florida Statutes 63.032
- Relative: means a person related by blood to the person being adopted within the third degree of consanguinity. See Florida Statutes 63.032
(b) The name to be given to the person to be adopted;
(c) The date petitioner acquired custody of the minor and the name of the adoption entity placing the minor, if any;
(d) The full name, age, and place and duration of residence of the petitioner;
(e) The marital status of the petitioner, including the date and place of marriage, if married, and divorces, if applicable to the adoption by a stepparent;
(f) A statement that the petitioner is able to provide for the material needs of the child;
(g) A description and estimate of the value of any property of the person to be adopted;
(h) The case style and date of entry of the judgment terminating parental rights or, if the adoptee is an adult or a minor relative or a stepchild of the petitioner, the address, if known, of any person whose consent to the adoption is required and, if such person has not consented, the facts or circumstances that excuse the lack of consent to justify a termination of parental rights; and
(i) The reasons why the petitioner desires to adopt the person.
(2) The following documents are required to be filed with the clerk of the court at the time the petition is filed:
(a) A certified copy of the court judgment terminating parental rights under chapter 39 or under this chapter or, if the adoptee is an adult or a minor relative or stepchild of the petitioner, the required consent, unless such consent is excused by the court.
(b) The favorable preliminary home study of the department, licensed child-placing agency, or professional pursuant to s. 63.092, as to the suitability of the home in which the minor has been placed, unless the petitioner is a stepparent or a relative.
(c) A copy of any declaratory statement previously entered by the court pursuant to s. 63.102.
(d) Documentation that an interview was held with the minor, if older than 12 years of age, unless the court, in the best interest of the minor, dispenses with the minor’s consent under s. 63.062(1)(c).
(3) Unless ordered by the court, no report or recommendation is required when the placement is a stepparent adoption or an adult adoption or when the minor is a relative of one of the adoptive parents.