(a) Dependency proceedings shall be commenced in the county where the child resides, in the county where the child is present when the proceedings are commenced, or in the county where the acts that are the basis of the dependency petition occurred.
(b) Regardless of the county where the child currently resides, when a petition is filed seeking to modify an award of custody or visitation pursuant to an adjudication of dependency, and one of the individuals who was a party to the original proceeding still resides in the county of the juvenile court of original jurisdiction, the petition shall be filed in the juvenile court of the original jurisdiction.
(c) When a petition is filed seeking to modify an award of custody or visitation pursuant to an adjudication of dependency in which all parties to the original action, including the child, no longer reside in the county of original jurisdiction, the petition shall be filed in the county where the child resides at the time the petition is filed. The petition shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the most recent order to be modified.
(d) For purposes of this section, county where the child resides means the county in which the child and legal custodian have established legal residence or have resided for six or more months of a calendar year. This term shall not include placements by a state department or agency.
Structure Code of Alabama
Chapter 15 - Juvenile Proceedings.
Article 3 - Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights.
Section 12-15-301 - Definitions.
Section 12-15-302 - Venue Generally.
Section 12-15-303 - Transfer of Dependency Proceedings Between Juvenile Courts Within the State.
Section 12-15-304 - Appointment by Juvenile Courts of Guardians Ad Litem.
Section 12-15-310 - Conduct of Adjudicatory Hearings.
Section 12-15-311 - Dispositional Hearing.
Section 12-15-314 - Dispositions for Dependent Children.
Section 12-15-315 - Permanency Hearing for Department of Human Resources Cases Only.
Section 12-15-317 - Who May File Petition.
Section 12-15-318 - Service of Process.
Section 12-15-320 - Dispositions.
Section 12-15-322 - Authority of One in Custody to Place Child for Adoption or Consent to Adoption.
Section 12-15-323 - Appeals of Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights Cases.