2021 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE
Article 9: ADOPTION
Part 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
18-C §9-103. Jurisdiction

§9-103. Jurisdiction

1.  Probate Court jurisdiction.  Subject to Title 4, section 152, subsection 5-A, the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following:  

A. Petitions for adoption;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. Consents and reviews of withholdings of consent by persons other than a parent;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. Surrenders and releases;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

D. Termination of parental rights proceedings brought pursuant to section 9-204;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

E. Proceedings to determine the rights of putative parents of children whose adoptions or surrenders and releases are pending before the Probate Court; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

F. Reviews conducted pursuant to section 9-205.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

2.  District Court jurisdiction.  The District Court has jurisdiction to conduct hearings pursuant to section 9-205. The District Court has jurisdiction over any matter described in subsection 1 if the proceeding concerns a child over whom the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction pursuant to Title 4, section 152, subsection 5-A.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).