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Probate Court Form 139F

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Probate Court Form 139F - Adoption Decree Stepparent Adoption of a Minor

STATE OF VERMONT PROBATE COURT

DISTRICT OF

IN RE ADOPTION OF DOCKET NO.

ADOPTION DECREE - STEPPARENT ADOPTION OF A MINOR

15A V. S. A. 4-101 et seq.

The Court has considered a petition for adoption of the above-named minor filed under Title 15A V. S. A. (The Adoption Act). Based upon the documents on file and the evidence submitted at a hearing held on , 20 , the Court makes the following findings of fact:

1. The original name of the minor adoptee is:

2. A petition for adoption of the minor was filed by on , 20 .

3. The minor was born on , 20 at . The time of birth was (A.M./P.M.).

4. The petitioner is is not married.

5. The petitioner is a stepparent of the adoptee or is a person who is treated as a stepparent of the adoptee pursuant to 4-101(b) of the Adoption Act.

6. Check one:

A new birth certificate shall not be issued because either the petitioner, or the minor, who is over the age of 14, has requested that a new birth certificate not be issued.

A new birth certificate shall be issued by the Supervisor of Vital Records with the following information set forth therein:

Father:

Name:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Mother:

Maiden Name:

Name by Which Mother Is Known:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

7. The adoptee shall be known by the name of upon issuance of this decree.

8. The adoptee has been in the physical custody of the petitioner for at least 180 days.

9. Notice of this proceeding for adoption has been served or dispensed with as to those persons entitled to receive notice under Part 3 of Article 3 of the Adoption Act and 4-109 of the Adoption Act.

10. Each necessary consent, relinquishment, waiver, disclaimer of parental interest, judicial order terminating parental rights, including any order issued under Part 5 of Article 3 of the Adoption Act as required by the Adoption Act, has been filed with the court.

11. Any evaluation required by the Adoption Act has been filed with, and considered by the court or has not been required by the court pursuant to 4-110 of the Adoption Act.

12. The court has obtained the information required by 203-(d)(7)-(9) of the Adoption Act.

13. Each item required by 3-305(a) of the Adoption Act, which the court has determined is relevant to this adoption has been filed with the court or, if any of the said items is unavailable, the person responsible for furnishing it has filed an affidavit explaining its absence.

14. All applicable requirements of the Adoption Act governing an interstate or inter-country placement for this adoption have been met.

15. The Indian Child Welfare Act 25 U. S. C. 1901 et seq., is not applicable to this proceeding, or, if applicable, its requirements have been met.

16. The accounting and affidavit required by 3-702 of the Adoption Act have been reviewed by the court and the court has denied, modified, or ordered reimbursement of any payment or disbursement which is not authorized under Article 7 of the Adoption Act with respect to this adoption.

17. The petitioner has received each report required by 2-105 of the Adoption Act.

18. The petitioner is a suitable adoptive parent for the minor.

19. It is in the best interest of the minor to grant the petition for adoption.

Upon this decree becoming final:

A. The legal relationship between the adoptive parent and the adoptee shall be set forth in 1-104 of the Adoption Act;

B. The decree shall not affect:

1. The legal relationship between the parent who is the adoptive stepparent’s spouse or deceased spouse and the adoptee shall remain the same as it was prior to the adoption.

2. An existing court order for visitation or communication with a minor adoptee by a person related to the adoptee through the parent who is the adoptive stepparent’s spouse or deceased spouse; or

3. A court order of agreement for visitation or communication with a minor adoptee approved by the court pursuant to 4-112 of the Adoption Act.

C. The legal relationship between the parent who is not the spouse or the deceased spouse of the stepparent and the adoptee shall be as set forth in 1-105 of the Adoption Act, EXCEPT THAT:

1. The minor and any descendant of the minor will retain rights of inheritance from and through this parent;

2. A court order for visitation or communication with the minor by this parent or by a person related to the minor through this parent, or an agreement or order concerning another person who is approved by the court pursuant to 4-112 of the Adoption Act survives the decree of adoption, but failure to comply with the terms of the order or agreement is not a ground for revoking or setting aside the adoption.

3. This parent remains liable for arrearage of child support unless released from that obligation by the other parent, and any guardian ad litem of the minor and any governmental entity providing public assistance to the minor.

THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED AND DECREED that the minor, , is adopted by, and made the child of,

and shall hereafter bear the name of .

Dated:

_______________________________________
Probate Judge

Probate Court, District of

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What Probate Court Form 139F Is and when it’s used

Probate Court Form 139F is a probate-court filing used in estate-administration workflows to record essential case details, identify parties, and trigger court processing. Exact function and layout vary by jurisdiction; the form commonly captures decedent identification, petitioner or executor information, a brief asset summary or claim detail, signature blocks, and a notary or court-acknowledgment area. Courts rely on a correctly completed Form 139F to open files, notify interested parties, and set scheduling. Because requirements differ by state and county, confirm the local probate clerk’s instructions before filing to avoid processing delays.

Why accurate completion of Form 139F matters

Completing Form 139F accurately helps the court identify the estate, validate authority, and start required notices and timelines. Errors or omissions can delay administration, require amendments, or trigger additional court appearances.

Why accurate completion of Form 139F matters

Who typically prepares and receives this form

The form is completed and submitted during probate by parties responsible for estate administration.

  • Executor or personal representative prepares and signs the form to establish authority and notify the court and beneficiaries.
  • Probate attorneys complete and review Form 139F to ensure compliance with local rules and to attach required exhibits.
  • Court clerks process filings, record the case, and use the form to set deadlines and notice schedules.

Smaller estates or self-represented filers often use templates or attorney review to avoid common procedural errors.

Typical signers and their roles

Executor

The executor or personal representative is the person legally responsible for administering the estate; they sign to confirm authority, provide contact information, and file inventories or notices with the probate court.

Probate Attorney

An attorney prepares or reviews Form 139F to ensure the form reflects the petition, complies with local rules, attaches necessary exhibits, and advises on notice and creditor timelines.

Core data elements included on Form 139F

Decedent Name: Full legal name
Decedent DOB: MM/DD/YYYY
Case Number: Court-assigned identifier
Petitioner Info: Name and contact
Asset Summary: Short asset list
Signature Block: Signer and date

Key risks from incorrect or incomplete filings

Filing Delay: Processing postponed
Rejection: Court returns form
Invalid Notice: Interested parties not reached
Authority Gap: Executor powers questioned
Fee Exposure: Late fees or refiling
Perjury Risk: False statements penalized

Common preparation pitfalls to avoid

  • Using informal or shortened names that do not match a death certificate or other official records, causing identity mismatches during court review.
  • Omitting the required notary acknowledgment or failing to include a self-proving affidavit when the jurisdiction explicitly requires one for probate filings.
  • Failing to list known creditors or an asset inventory attachment, which can delay notices and creditor-claim deadlines.
  • Submitting the wrong county or case number, or using an outdated version of the form, which often triggers rejection and refiling.

Step-by-step: completing Probate Court Form 139F

Follow a consistent sequence to reduce errors: gather documentation, complete fields accurately, get required signatures and notarization, then file per local rules.

  • 01
    Gather records: Collect death certificate, will, asset lists, and identification
  • 02
    Fill fields: Enter names, dates, addresses, and case details
  • 03
    Sign & notarize: Sign as required; obtain notary or witnesses
  • 04
    File with court: Submit originals or eFile per county clerk instructions

Common timing items and where they typically fall

Probate timelines are driven by local statutes and court rules; below are common deadlines filers should expect to manage.

Initial Petition:

File to open probate; timing varies by state

Notice to Heirs:

Often served within 30 days of opening the case

Creditor Claims:

Claims periods commonly run 90–180 days depending on jurisdiction

Inventory Filing:

Submit within court-ordered window, often 60–120 days

Final Accounting:

File before closing; timing set by court schedule

Key milestone sequence during probate administration

A simplified sequence shows the primary procedural stages from filing to closing; courts may add intermediate hearings.

01

File Petition

Petitioner files the opening papers and supporting exhibits with the probate clerk

02

Service and Notice

Court-issued notices are served to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors as required

03

Inventory and Claims

Executor files inventory and addresses creditor claims or disputes

04

Final Accounting

Executor files accounting and petitions for discharge to close the estate

Practical tips for error-free Form 139F filing

Adopt practices that reduce rejections, speed processing, and maintain compliance with court and regulatory standards.

Confirm the current form version
Before completing Form 139F, verify the county probate clerk’s website or contact the clerk to confirm you have the currently accepted version and any local instruction sheet; using an outdated form is a leading cause of rejection and delay.
Match legal names and dates
Ensure that the decedent’s name, dates, and social identifiers match official records (death certificate, will, or trust). Mismatches often require corrective affidavits or amended filings that add time and cost.
Label and attach exhibits
When attaching inventories, wills, death certificates, or creditor lists, label each exhibit clearly and reference it in the form; organized exhibits reduce clerical review time and help the court accept the filing on first submission.
Use permitted eSigning carefully
If the court and jurisdiction accept electronic signatures, satisfy ESIGN/UETA requirements (intent, consent, attribution, retention) and follow local RON or notary rules to ensure a valid signature chain.

Real-world examples of streamlined probate filings

These scenarios show how accurate form completion and proper attachments shorten review cycles and reduce informal corrections.

Estate administration streamlined

A small estate executor used a validated form and attached a certified death certificate

  • The court accepted the filing without amendment
  • The estate avoided multiple trips to the clerk and closed administration faster while preserving records for tax reporting.

Attorney-reviewed filing

A probate attorney reviewed Form 139F, labeled exhibits, and confirmed notice procedures

  • The executor followed the attorney’s directions
  • The court scheduled the first status hearing on the initial filing, reducing follow-up correspondence and rework.

Where Form 139F is sent and how it moves through the system

Understand the common routing path so you can prepare required copies and electronic submissions in advance.

  • County Probate Clerk: Primary filing location for original document and exhibits
  • Court Docketing: Clerk stamps, assigns case number, and posts docket entry
  • Notice Recipients: Copies served to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors as ordered
  • Record Retention: Court retains originals and provides certified copies on request

Technical considerations for digital completion and eSubmission

When completing and routing Form 139F electronically, confirm the court accepts electronic or scanned submissions and whether notarization must be wet-ink or RON.

  • eFiling portals: Court-specific requirements
  • Cloud storage: Box, Google Workspace, or local records
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, or document management

Coordinate with the probate clerk to verify acceptable file formats (PDF/A recommended), any header/footer requirements, and whether certified paper copies are required after electronic submission.

Frequently asked questions about Form 139F

Answers to common questions on e-signatures, notarization, corrections, and filing help reduce common processing errors.


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