[oceanica]

So Athena's final hearing is coming up and her adoption will be official after that!!
Am I supposed to say something at court and should I prepare? What did everyone else do?

[hoping4u]

First of all CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At our finalization hearing both DH and I had to be sworn in and our attorney asked us some questions. She asked about our contact with bmom, to verify that we were given health info, how long DS was in our care and questions similar to that. We also got into questioning about our DS testing positive for drugs in the hospital (which was a suprise). DS cried through the whole thing - which only lasted about 15 minutes!

Best of luck to you!

[oceanica]

thanks hoping, I can't wait to have this finalized. An agency person previously was telling my husband and me that we have to give a speech and we should write it out ahead of time so we don't get flustered... I wonder if that is a florida thing or only in certain courts or what. Can anybody clarify or tell me how it was in your case? How long is this proceeding and what do we have to do there?

[lovemy2boys]

Yikes! I'd be so nervous if I had to make a speech!

We were just asked basic questions (we're in Michigan) - are we prepared to raise this child, to give him the guidance that a child needs, do we realize that he is our child in all sense of the word...etc.

I think if you have to say something, it would be something simple - a few statements about how you know how great a responsibility a child is and that you are excited and honored to be able to love and nurture your daughter.

Our hearing was only about 10 minutes long - and there certainly was no time allotted for us to speak.

Congratulations, by the way!

[Fran27]

Oooooh when is it?

Thanks for posting, I was wondering the same thing!