*1 D ISTRICT C OURT O F A PPEAL O F T HE S TATE O F F LORIDA F OURTH D ISTRICT
IN RE THE ADOPTION OF J.S.M.
No. 4D21-2309
[October 6, 2021] Appeal of nonfinal order from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; Karen M. Miller, Judge; L.T. Case No. 502021DR003042XXXXNB.
Rebecca Mercier Vargas, Jane Kreusler-Walsh, and Stephanie L. Serafin of Kreusler-Walsh, Vargas & Serafin, P.A., West Palm Beach, for Prospective Adoptive Parents M.A.G. and W.H.M.
Elizabeth R. Berkowitz, Law Office of Elizabeth R. Berkowitz, P.A., North Palm Beach, Adoption Entity, pro se.
P ER C URIAM .
In this prospective adoption, the circuit court sua sponte transferred venue to Hernando County, Florida. The court determined “there is no adoption entity” and, as a result, found venue to be improper in Palm Beach County, Florida. But there is an adoption entity and venue is proper “[i]n the county where the adoption entity is located.” § 63.087(2)(a)2., Fla. Stat. (2020). Because the adoption entity is located in Palm Beach County, venue was proper in Palm Beach County, and the court’s sua sponte order transferring venue is reversed.
Reversed and remanded.
L EVINE , F ORST and K UNTZ , JJ., concur.
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Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
