Section 26-10A-16

Petition.

(a) A petition for adoption shall be filed with the clerk of the court within 30 days after the minor is placed with the prospective adoptive parent or parents for purposes of adoption unless the minor is in custody of the Department of Human Resources or a licensed child placing agency except that a petition for good cause shown may be filed beyond the 30-day period. The petition shall be signed, and verified by each petitioner, and shall allege:

(1) The full name, age, and place of residence of each petitioner and, if married, the place and date of marriage;

(2) The date and place of birth of the adoptee, except in the case of abandonment;

(3) The birth name of the adoptee, any other names by which the adoptee has been known, and the adoptee's proposed new name;

(4) Where the adoptee is residing at the time of the filing of the petition, and if the minor is not in the custody of a petitioner, when he, she, or they intend to acquire custody;

(5) That each petitioner desires to establish a parent and child relationship between himself or herself and the adoptee and that he or she is a fit and proper person able to care for and provide for the adoptee's welfare;

(6) The existence and nature of any prior court orders known to the petitioner which affect the custody, visitation, or access to the adoptee;

(7) The relationship, if any, of each petitioner to the adoptee;

(8) The name and address of the placing agency, if any; and

(9) The names and addresses of all persons known to the petitioner at the time of filing from whom consents or relinquishment to the adoption are required;

(b) The caption of a petition for adoption shall be styled "In the Matter of the Adoption Petition of _____." Each petitioner shall be designated in the caption.

(c) The petition shall be accompanied by a copy of the child's birth certificate or affidavit stating that application for a birth certificate has been made except in cases where the child has been abandoned.

(Acts 1990, No. 90-554, p. 912, §16.)