Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 12-15-121 (2026)

Form, Contents, and Execution of Juvenile Petitions.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, laws through the 2026 Regular Session
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(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.

(Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §5-115; §12-15-52; amended and renumbered by Act 2008-277, p. 441, §7.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 2011–2026 · leading case: F.W. v. T.M., 140 So. 3d 950 (Ala. Civ. App. 2013).
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F.W. v. T.M., 140 So. 3d 950 (Ala. Civ. App. 2013). “Similarly, we note that § 12-15-121(a), Ala.Code 1975, allows “[a] juvenile petition alleging .”
M.S. v. S.P., 72 So. 3d 1250 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “Ala.Code 1975, § 12-15-121(a). Thus, the maternal grandmother had standing to initiate the dependency action by signing and filing her petition.”
Russell Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources v. K.W., 87 So. 3d 1217 (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). “Code 1975, § 12-15-120 and § 12-15-121 (recognizing that, as a general rule, a dependency action is initiated by the filing of a dependency petition).”
Ex parte Sp, 72 So. 3d 1250 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “Ala.Code 1975, § 12-15-121(a). Thus, the maternal grandmother had standing to initiate the dependency action by signing and filing her petition.”
K.L. v. M.W. (Appeal from Autauga Juv. Court: JU-23-44.01)., 394 So. 3d 596 (Ala. Civ. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “The requirements for the form and content of a dependency petition are set forth in § 12-15-121, Ala. Code 1975, which provides, in pertinent part: "(a) A juvenile petition alleging delinquency, in need of supervision, or dependency may be signed by any person 18 years of age or…”
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.05)., No. CL-2022-1280 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.04)., No. CL-2022-1279 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.01)., No. CL-2022-1277 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.B. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.03)., No. CL-2022-1289 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.B. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.01)., No. CL-2022-1288 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
C.S. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.05)., No. CL-2022-1250 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
C.S. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.04)., No. CL-2022-1249 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). · cites it 2× “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
Show all 21 citing cases →
Ala. Code § 12-15-121(a): 3 cases
F.W. v. T.M., 140 So. 3d 950 (Ala. Civ. App. 2013). “Similarly, we note that § 12-15-121(a), Ala.Code 1975, allows “[a] juvenile petition alleging .”
M.S. v. S.P., 72 So. 3d 1250 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Ala.Code 1975, § 12-15-121(a). Thus, the maternal grandmother had standing to initiate the dependency action by signing and filing her petition.”
Ex parte Sp, 72 So. 3d 1250 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Ala.Code 1975, § 12-15-121(a). Thus, the maternal grandmother had standing to initiate the dependency action by signing and filing her petition.”
Ala. Code § 12-15-121(b): 1 case
United States v. Chance Willis, 537 F. App'x 711 (9th Cir. 2013).
Ala. Code § 12-15-121(c)(1): 14 cases
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.05)., No. CL-2022-1280 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.04)., No. CL-2022-1279 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.R. & A.R. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, C.S., & J.B. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.01)., No. CL-2022-1277 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.B. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.03)., No. CL-2022-1289 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
J.B. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, J.R., & A.R. (Appeal from Morgan Juv. Court: JU-21-12.01)., No. CL-2022-1288 (Ala. Civ. App. Jan. 31, 2024). “03 -- but the petition 6 CL-2022-1246, CL-2022-1247, CL-2022-1248, CL-2022-1249, CL-2022- 1250, CL-2022-1277, CL-2022-1279, CL-2022-1280, CL-2022-1288, and CL-2022-1289 did not allege any specific facts relating to the dependency of the child, see Ala. Code 1975, §…”
Ala. Code § 12-15-121(c)(l): 1 case
G.N. v. Cullman Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources, 154 So. 3d 82 (Ala. 2014).
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