{"data":{"id":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-303","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"18-C M.R.S. §9-303","heading":"Petition","body":"1.  Sworn; contents.  A petition for adoption must be sworn to by the petitioner and must include:\nA.  The full name, age and place of residence of the petitioner and, if married, the place and date of marriage;\nB.  The date and place of birth of the adoptee, if known;\nC.  The birth name of the adoptee, any other names by which the adoptee has been known and the adoptee's proposed new name, if any;\nD.  The residence of the adoptee at the time of the filing of the petition;\nE.  A statement of the petitioner's intention to establish a parent-child relationship between the petitioner and the adoptee and a statement that the petitioner is a fit and proper person able to care and provide for the adoptee's welfare;\nF.  The names and addresses of all persons or agencies known to the petitioner that affect the custody of, visitation with or access to the adoptee;\nG.  The relationship, if any, of the petitioner to the adoptee;\nH.  The names and addresses of the department and the licensed child-placing agency, if any;\nI.  The names and addresses of all persons known to the petitioner at the time of filing from whom consent to the adoption is required; and\nJ.  If the petition is for the adoption of a minor child, a statement that the petitioner acknowledges that after the adoption is finalized, the transfer of the long-term care and custody of the adoptee without a court order is prohibited under Title 17‑A, section 553, subsection 1, paragraphs C and D.\n2.  Information to be shared and updated.  A petitioner shall indicate to the court what information the petitioner is willing to share with the parents and under what circumstances and shall provide a mechanism for updating that information.\n3.  Caption.  The caption of a petition for adoption may be styled \"In the Matter of the Adoption Petition of (name of adoptee).\"  The petitioner must also be designated in the caption.","path":["TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE","PART 3: ADOPTION PROCEDURES"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec9-303.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"6265c64809cbe2758f5a87458ecbdcd931c8798516fec01da02ad8c393acea23","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-302","next":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-304"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}