IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR HARDEE, HIGHLANDS AND POLK COUNTIES, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 5-30.0

HRS FORM 527 CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

WHEREAS, HRS Form 527 entitled A CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION requires certification by the Clerk of the Courts; and

WHEREAS, certification of a blank form could result in certification of information subsequently found to be in conflict with information in the court files; and

WHEREAS, the judges of the Family Law Division of the Tenth Judicial Circuit recognize it is necessary to clarify certification procedures to amend birth certificates in adoption cases, to eliminate the potential for inaccurate adoption records or falsification of adoption records, and enact uniform policies and procedures for certification of HRS Form 527 by the Clerk of the Courts; and

WHEREAS, the judges of the Family Law Division of the Tenth Judicial Circuit have created the policies and procedures provided for in this Administrative Order for the purpose of setting forth standardized policies and procedures under which the Clerk of the Courts are to operate; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Court that said policies and procedures shall be implemented by the Clerk of the Courts of the Tenth Judicial Circuit forthwith.

NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Clerk of the Courts shall complete and certify Section C of HRS Form 527 entitled CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION only after Sections A and B of HRS Form 527 have been accurately completed by the attorney of record, the licensed child-placing agency or the State of Florida Department of HRS and the Clerk of the Courts has verified that the information provided in Sections A and B are not in conflict with information in the court files. When the final decree of adoption is ordered by the court and after receipt and verification of the information contained in Sections A and B in HRS Form 527, the Clerk of the Court shall complete Section C.

This Administrative Order is effective NUNC PRO TUNC, October 1, 1996.

DONE AND ORDERED in chambers at Bartow, Polk County, Florida, this day of October, 1996.

CHARLES A. DAVIS, JR., Chief Judge