Alabama § 12-15-121 - Form, Contents, and Execution of Juvenile Petitions.

§ 12-15-121. Form, Contents, and Execution of Juvenile Petitions.

(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.

(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.