HomeMy WebLinkAboutRule 39-15. 1. Practice and ProcedureRULE 39—15. ADOPTIONS
Rule 39—15. 1. Practice and Procedure
(a) Reports and Petitions; Fees. All reports and petitions relating to adoption shall be filed with the
Clerk of Courts and shall be in such form as is designated from time to time by the Court. All filing
fees shall be paid at the time of filing. The Clerk shall assign each case a docket number in the format
as follows: ______ – ADOPT – (YEAR). Upon the completion of any proceedings relative to
adoption, all documents in connection therewith shall be handled in the manner set forth in Pa.
O.C.R. 15.7.
(b) Request for Investigation. If no report of intention to adopt is required, in the absence of a
special order of court, there shall be no investigation of the petition for adoption. If an investigation
of the adoption petition is necessary, the Court shall order the investigating agency to conclude its
investigation and file its report not later than ninety (90) days after the filing of the notice of intention
to adopt.
(c) Counseling fund. Pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 2505(e), a fund has been established by the county
to provide funding for counseling pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 2505(c) or (d) for those who are unable
to pay for such counseling. A parent who cannot afford to pay for counseling may petition the Court
for payment of counseling by the fund. If the Court finds that the parent is unable to pay for
counseling and desires counseling, the Court shall order payment from the fund.