Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Missouri

Date: January 2022

Jurisdiction

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 453.010

The juvenile division of the circuit court has jurisdiction over adoption proceedings.

Venue

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 453.010

The adoption petition shall be filed in the county in which one of the following applies:

  • Where the petitioner resides
  • Where the child to be adopted was born
  • Where the child is located at the time of the filing of the petition
  • Where either birth parent resides