Going to your local court is recommended where you can get a Petition for Adoption and Affidavit for the Petitioner for the Adoption. You will need a certified long form copy of child’s birth certificate and you can obtain this from the Registry of Vital Records from the city or town the child was born. You will also need to do a criminal history check and you will have to do a home study; which is typically done by DCF or by an adoption agency.

There are certain circumstances where you can file a Motion to Waive the home study. Generally, if it is a step-parent who is adopting, then you will need an Affidavit Disclosing Care & Custody Proceedings, which is asking for a list of any proceedings regarding the child. The Federal and Central Registers of Missing Children search request.

In addition, if you are married you will need a copy of your marriage certificate. If you are divorced, a copy of your divorce judgment. If you are adopting a child whose birth mother was not married and whose father did not sign a Surrender, you will need an Affidavit from DCF regarding the search for parental responsibility disclaims, and Surrender forms from the parent; or copies of judgments from the Juvenile or Probate Court regarding the termination of parental rights.