Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Massachusetts
Date: January 2022
Jurisdiction
Citation: Ann. Laws Ch. 210, § 1
Adoption petitions must be filed with the probate court.
The district or juvenile court may, if it appears necessary or convenient, exercise the powers authorized by this chapter, but only in respect to a pending proceeding before such district or juvenile court.
Venue
Citation: Ann. Laws Ch. 210, § 1
A person may file an adoption petition in the probate court in the county where they reside.
If a person who is not an inhabitant of the State desires to adopt a child residing here, the petition may be made to the probate court in the county where the child resides.