The Pennsylvania Petition For Adoption is a set of legal forms used in the state of Pennsylvania to initiate the adoption process. The Petition for Adoption is used to establish the petitioner's intent to adopt a child, and to provide the court with information regarding the adoptive parents, the adoptive child, and the reasons for the adoption. Depending on the circumstances of the adoption, there are different types of Pennsylvania Petitions for Adoption. The most common types are: the Private Petition for Adoption, the Stepparent Adoption Petition, the Relative Adoption Petition, and the Non-Relative Adoption Petition. The Private Petition for Adoption is used when a family is seeking to adopt a child from a private adoption agency. The Stepparent Adoption Petition is used when a step-parent is seeking to adopt a step-child. The Relative Adoption Petition is used when a family member is seeking to adopt a child related to them by blood or marriage. The Non-Relative Adoption Petition is used when a family is seeking to adopt a child who is not related to them. Each Pennsylvania Petition for Adoption must include basic information about the adoptive parents and the child, as well as an affidavit from the petitioner stating the reasons for the adoption. All Petitions for Adoption must be filed with the court and served on the child's biological parents or guardians.