California · Family Code

FAM §8609.5: An adoption request for the adoption or readoption of a nondependent minor may be filed with the court in the county in which one of the following applies: (a) The petitioner resides.

What this law says, in plain English

An adoption petition for a nondependent minor may be filed in the county where the petitioner lives.

Read the full statutory text
An adoption request for the adoption or readoption of a nondependent minor may be filed with the court in the county in which one of the following applies: (a) The petitioner resides. (b) The child was born or resides at the time of filing. (c) An office of the agency that placed the child or is filing the petition for adoption is located. (d) An office of the department or a public adoption agency that is investigating the petition is located. (e) The county in which a placing birth parent or parents resided when the adoptive placement agreement, consent, or relinquishment was signed. (f) The county in which a placing birth parent or parents resided when the petition was filed. (g) The county in which the child was freed for adoption.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.