RE: ASSIGNMENT OF ADOPTION CASES

Chapter 63, Florida Statutes, was amended by Chapter 2003-58, Laws of Florida to provide that certain adoptions no longer require a separate termination of parental rights petition, and

In order to provide for assignment of such cases, it is:

ORDERED:

1. Effective October 1, 2003, the Clerk of the Court shall assign the following adoption petitions to a family law section in accordance with Local Rule 3 and Administrative Orders governing assignment of family law cases:

a. Adoption of relatives

b. Adoption of adults

c. Adoption of stepchildren where no termination of parental rights petition has been filed.

2. If a Petition for Termination of Parental Rights is filed in conjunction with a Stepparent Adoption Petition, the Clerk of the Court shall assign both petitions to a Unified Family Court (UFC) section in accordance with Local Rule 3 and Administrative Orders governing assignment of UFC cases.

3. No cases currently assigned to a Unified Family Court section are to be reassigned.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this _____day of September, 2003.

____________________________________

David A. Demers, Chief Judge

cc: All Pinellas Judges

The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

The Honorable Robert H. Dillinger, Public Defender

The Honorable Karleen F. DeBlaker, Clerk of Court, Pinellas County

Carol Heath, Director, Court Services Division, Pinellas County Clerk’s Office

J. William Lockhart, Courts Administrator

Bar Association, Pinellas County

Law Library, Pinellas County