(a) A juvenile petition alleging delinquency, in need of supervision, or dependency may be signed by any person 18 years of age or older, other than a juvenile court intake officer, who has knowledge of the facts alleged or is informed of them and believes that they are true. However, the person signing a dependency petition, in the petition or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, as required in Section 30-3B-209.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 12-15-121

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) A petition shall be entitled “In the matter of _____, a child” and shall be made under oath.
(c) The petition shall set forth with specificity all of the following:

(1) The facts which bring the child under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the facts constituting the alleged dependency, delinquency, or need of supervision and the facts showing that the child is in need of supervision, treatment, rehabilitation, care, or the protection of the state, as the case may be.
(2) The name, age, and residence address, if known, of the child on whose behalf the petition is brought.
(3) The names and residence addresses, if known to the petitioner, of the parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of the child. If no parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian resides or can be found within the state or if their respective places of residence are unknown, the name of any known adult relative residing within the county or, if there be none, the known adult relative residing nearest to the location of the juvenile court.
(4) The place of detention of the child and the time he or she was taken into custody, if the child in custody is alleged to be delinquent or in need of supervision.
(d) When any of the facts required by subsection (c) are not known, except the facts required by subdivision (4) of subsection (c), the petition shall so state.
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