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Forms linked below can be filled out on-line. However, the forms still needs to be print out, signed and then submit it to Bristol County Probate and Family Court either by mail or in person.

 

Here you will find:

 

What to file:

• No filing fee;

• Birth Certificate of the child which must be a recent “Standard Certificate of Live Birth”, sometimes called a Long-Form Birth Certificate.  You can get this form from the state's vital records department or the city/town hall where the child was born;

• Petition for Adoption. You MUST file ONE form for each child;

• Affidavit of Petitioner for Adoption;

• Surrender Form;

• Affidavit Disclosing Care or Custody of a child, you MUST file this form;

• Motion for Waiver of Department of Social Services Report. To be used in Step-Parent Adoptions;

• Request for Record Information (CP-2).

                                                     Adoption forms can be found here.

 

Where to file:

All papers above should be filed

By mail at:

Bristol County Probate and Family Court

40 Broadway, Suite 240

Taunton, MA 02780

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In person at one of our three locations:

40 Broadway, Suite 240

Taunton, MA 02780

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289 Rock St

Fall River, MA

 

505 Pleasant Street

New Bedford, MA

 

What to Expect after you file:

- After you file the above appropriate papers with the court, you will be required to notify persons interested (i.e. parents of the minor child being adopted, guardians, etc.)

- To notify persons interested, the Court will send you a “citation” in the mail. You might need to have this citation published in a newspaper and/or mail to the appropriate parties. The citation will have instructions for you to follow.

- After you have complied with the instructions on the citation, you must file the original citation with the Court, indicating your compliance by completing the back of the citation.

- Upon receipt of the original citation containing your statement of compliance and of all required information, and if there is no objection to the adoption, the Court will notify you to select a date for a hearing. After the hearing, the Court will usually issue a Decree of Adoption and send you a certified copy of the Certificate of Adoption.

- If there are objections to the adoption, the matter will be scheduled for a Pre-Trial Conference. At the Pre-Trial Conference, a trial date will be established if the matter is not resolved.