Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Rhode Island

Jurisdiction

Citation: Gen. Laws § 15-7-4

Any person residing in Rhode Island may petition the family court for leave to adopt. The family court shall retain jurisdiction over any petition when and if the petitioners become nonresidents after the petition is filed, while the case is still pending.

Any person not a resident of Rhode Island may petition the family court to adopt if the child is in the care and custody of a governmental child-placing agency or licensed Rhode Island child-placing agency at the time of the filing of the petition.

Venue

Citation: Gen. Laws § 15-7-4

There is one family court in Rhode Island for all adoptions of children under age 18. For an adopted person who is age 18 or older, venue is the probate court in the city or town where the petitioners live.