[buddy8203]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what kind of questions the judge will ask you at the court hearing. We are just beginnning the process.

Thanks for your help
Buddy

[mommamarci]

What kind of adoption is this? Domestic? Foster care? International?

[devildogwife]

If it's domestic you're asking about, I could give you an idea.

[ourdreamcametru]

For our private domestic adoption we were taken into the judges chambers and basicly ask if we understood that this was a life long decision and that this was to be our child, just like our two bio children were ours and that we should show no differences. Other than that she really just talked to us, wanted to know how we met, decided to adopt and was very laid back and sweet.

[buddy8203]

It is a private domestic adoption. I thought we had to get on the stand in front of everyone. Do all judges have you go into his/her chamber? I like that better.

Thanks for any help

[KIC1975]

It depends on the judge. Our adoption was in the judge's chambers. Really laid back and comfortable. Our friends had a different judge and they did everything in the courtroom. The adad even had to take the stand.
But, both ways got the job done.
It was different, but neither was very stressful. btw, both adoption were done in the same county, so it wasn't a difference in laws, just different judges.

[ourdreamcametru]

When we went in the judges chambers was for TPR when Castle was 5 days old. When she was 6 months old we went to the court room, same judge. This time our family could come with us and we were in the room with about 10 other families completing adoptions. We were called up to the judges stand, she made small talk, held the baby, gave our two older sons, 10 and 14 at the time, candy and talked to them, gave us time to make pictures but no video allowed then she proclaimed us a family and congradulated us that was it so it was equally as laid back as the TPR in the chambers.

[lovemy2boys]

We actually went into the court room, but it was only us and our families, the judge, the court reporter, bailiff and social worker from the agency...

It was a wonderful experience - we sat at one table and the sw sat at the other, our family sat in the jury box - lol...

At the end, we took lots of great pics with the judge, our families and the social worker.

He asked questions like "Do you acknowledge that this is now your child, that you are responsible for his/her care...that you are given the responsibility to love and nurture this child..."

It was actually quite short and quite wonderful.

We see the judge from our youngest son's finalization from time to time (he lives quite near us) and he remembers us...he is the judge for the juvenille court, so he says he looks upon adoption hearings with great pleasure considering what he sees every other day of the month.

My mom videotaped the whole thing - unfortunately she held the camera sideways (apparently that's how I handed it to her, so she thought that was how she was supposed to hold it - yeesh) so now if we watch the finalization, we have to lay our heads on our shoulders to see it - lol.

[aspenhall]

Ours was done in a courtroom and some members of our families attended. It's posted as a closed court...but really anybody could have come in.

It was done similar to a wedding ceremony, but without the ceremonial exact words. We were each asked to stand (not on the stand) as we verbally committed to our dd.

Afterwards, the judge got pictures with us all....AND presented us with the taped recording of the proceedings! I guess it's standard that our court tapes it for us. The judge that finalized our adoption was my DH's business law professor in college and he kinda knew us, so that was cool too....but in my town nearly everyone knows us....so it wasn't odd, and I didn't think of being intimidated...I'm not sure if there's a judge in my county that I don't know personally......

It was held in the same courtroom where Warren Jeffs was tried and convicted...that was strange...to see that room on Court TV...and see him sit, where we had sat....creeped me out...

[sambob]

We were in a courtroom, but we were the only ones in there (it wasn't a public proceeding). The judge just asked if we were prepared for the lifelong commitment of caring for the child and stuff like that. He flipped through our file and asked a few questions, more out of curiosity I think. By the time it gets to court, the whole process with the homestudy, the post-placement report, all the paperwork, waiting periods...that's all behind you. This is more to put the final stamp of approval on it, and a time to celebrate. We were able to approach the bench and take pictures with the judge and all of that. He even told us that this was the fun part of his job. He was happy for us and wished us luck.

[devildogwife]

We actually finalized over the phone in my son's hospital room. We had a conference call from the judge's chambers, where the judge, court reporter, our attorney and my son's GAL were present. The attorney, GAL, and judge all questioned me, but our lawyer prepared me before hand. We were petitioning to waive the remaining days until finalization and finalize early. I was asked to explain about my son's heart defect and why he needed to be treated where we were. I was asked our previous address. I was asked if we had bonded (you bet we had!) I was asked what life could look like for someone with HLHS. I was asked if we understood that he had the same rights as a child born to us. His GAL also asked about the major open heart surgery that he was having the next day. Then, my DH was asked if he agreed with everything I had said. They (attorney's) commended us for what we were doing. They also petitioned to change his name, and then the judge found it in my son's best interest to waive the remaining days and he officially became our son. It was such a neat experience. The PICU social worker was in the room with us and so was my son's favorite nurse, who has taken care of him SO much since he was born. She cried.

[SamIAm2]

For us, TPR and the Finalization Hearing happened with the same judge and in the same court room. With TPR, it was open court and it was packed full of people and their attorneys! We sat in the back of the room while our attorney approached the bench and said a few words and the judge signed the TPR papers. But for Finalization it was closed court and only our family was allowed in. The judge asked us questions similar to what the others were asked....such as do you understand this is permanent and that the child should be raised the same as a child born biologically to us. He also made our other kids promise to love her and be good siblings to her He then presented our daughter to us with her new name, congratulated us, and took a few pictures with our new complete family The whole thing was over in about 10 minutes or less. Easy stuff compared to all the paperwork and visits during the homestudy!

Good luck....I'm sure that it will be painless, as well as one of the best days of your life!

[aclee]

We were in a really small court room. We sat at a table with our Attny, the social worker, the GAL and the bmom and bdad. First our attny showed the bfamily the TPR they had signed, asked them if it was their signature, and asked if they knew that it was not binding till this court hearing. Then asked if they had been explained that once the document was filed with the court it was final etc etc. Asked if they had any questions about that. Asked them if they still agreed and were making the adoption plan of their own free will. Then questioned the social worker, then the GAL in similar ways about best interests of the child, making sure they all had read our homestudy, and found us a sound placement. Then asked Mike and I some questions about providing for Tyler, and all that. Then the attny gave the TPR they had signed to the judge. Then we all cried our eyes out and sat for a while and went through a box of tissues while the social worker rubbed our backs. Ty's bmom and bdad were holding hands, I was holding hands with DH and M and I were holding hands as well. We had a little chain and we were all shaking. It was very emotional.

I'm told by my our social worker that it will take us longer to park than it does to actually finalize the adoption.

[Asha0314]

I adopted private, domestic. The TPR was already signed and I had to attend for the initial legal preceedings thru the court to begin. My daughter was alittle over a month old. I was allowed to bring as many family members as I wanted. With my family and attorney, I entered into the court room before the judge, eveyone present was sworn in. The only ones present were the baby and I, my attorney and family members I brought along--maybe a baliff, I can't remember. The judge asked who the family members were, what was my occupation and where did I work, who would be the male role models and a few other questions related to adopting as a single parent. I was commended on my decision to adopt and I think that was all. The judge was very nice. I was nervous but the whole experience from initially meeting the lawyer there until we left went very smoothly. All the people we interacted with during the whole process were very friendly. It wasn't bad at all.

I suspect the questions the judge will address to you will depend on your particular situation.

Also, in my case, the attorney told me ahead of time that absolutely no pictures could be taken in the courtroom.

[waiting4amiracle]

It's intersting to see how differently things are done from State to State. We went for our preliminary about 3 months after placement. Met our attorney at the court house then waiting to be called by the bailiff. Only we were in the court room along with our attorney, the judge (of course), the bailiff and 2 clerks. The judge asked us our names and occupations, asked our attorney to introduce herself and then permitted the attorney to ask us the questions on the record. After the preliminary order was signed we took pictures with the judge and our attorney. He even let us sit on the bench which was pretty cool.

As for final, we didn't even have to go to court! Apparently the post-placement visit reports were sufficient to satisfy the court our DD was in good hands and good health. The Final Decree of Adoption was signed and issued without us even having to appear.