§9-104. Venue; transfer
1.
Venue if adoptee placed by agency or department.
If an adoptee is placed by a licensed child-placing agency or the department, the petition for adoption must be filed in the court in the county or division where:
A.
The petitioner resides;
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B.
The adoptee resides or was born;
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
C.
An office of the agency that placed the adoptee for adoption is located; or
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
D.
Parental rights of the minor adoptee’s parents have been terminated.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
2.
Venue if agency or department not involved in placement.
If an adoptee is not placed by a licensed child-placing agency or the department, the petition for adoption must be filed in the county or division where the adoptee resides or where the petitioners reside.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
3.
Transfer.
If, in the interests of justice or for the convenience of the parties, the court finds that the matter should be heard in another court, the court may transfer, stay or dismiss the proceeding, subject to any further conditions imposed by the court.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).