1. (a) A petition for adoption shall be filed with the clerk of the court. The petition shall be signed and verified by each petitioner and shall allege all of the following:

   1. (1) The full name, date and place of birth, and place of residence of each petitioner and, if married, the place and date of their marriage.
   2. (2) The date and place of birth of the adoptee.
   3. (3) The birth name of the adoptee, any other names by which the adoptee has been known, and the adoptee’s proposed new name.
   4. (4) Where the adoptee is residing at the time of the filing of the petition.
   5. (5) That each petitioner desires to establish a legal parent and child relationship between himself or herself and the adoptee and that he or she is a fit and proper individual able to care for and provide for the adoptee’s welfare.
   6. (6) The existence and nature of any prior court orders known to the petitioner which could affect the adoption of the adoptee.
   7. (7) The relationship, if any, of each petitioner to the adoptee.
   8. (8) The name and address of any agency, if any, providing care for the adoptee.
   9. (9) The names and addresses of all individuals known to the petitioner at the time of filing from whom consents or notice to the adoption are required.
   10. (10) The name and address of the spouse of the adoptee, if any.
2. (b) The caption of a petition for adult adoption shall be styled “In the Matter of the Adoption Petition of _____.” Each petitioner shall be designated in the caption. There shall be no more than two petitioners.

3. (c) The petition shall be accompanied by each of the following:

   1. (1) A certified copy of the adoptee’s birth certificate.
   2. (2) Certified documentation that establishes proof of a marriage of the adoptee, if applicable.
   3. (3) Certified documentation that establishes proof of a marriage of the petitioners, if applicable.
   4. (4) Should common law marriage be alleged, any documentation upon which the petitioners rely to prove the existence of the common law marriage.

(Act 2023-92, §2.)