Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - New Hampshire

Jurisdiction

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 170-B:15(I)

The probate court has exclusive jurisdiction to grant a petition for adoption if the adopted person is present in the State or is in the legal custody or legal guardianship of an authorized agency located in the State at the time of the filing of the petition.

Venue

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 170-B:15(II-III)

The petition for adoption shall be filed in the probate court of the county in which the surrender has taken place or where a guardianship or a termination of parental rights proceeding has occurred related to the same adopted person.

If the court finds that in the interest of substantial justice the matter should be heard in another court, the court may transfer the proceeding in whole or in part to another court within the State or other foreign jurisdiction.