[bluebird38]

Are you allowed to attend the termination hearing in your county? We are not "invited" by the court to attend the hearing. We do get notices for the review hearings and permanency hearings, but not for termination. We have been told that it is actually a state law that foster parents are allowed to attend termination hearings.

Our fc TPR hearing is coming up soon. I want to be there so that if we do end up adopting our fc I will be able to later give them answers that I would not otherwise be able to provide them. I know a lot of what is said in court can not be told to us by cw, etc. I also want the judge to know that someone is there for the kids. However, we've been told by all of the "veteran" foster parents in our area that you don't question how they do things in our county or you'll end up with no placements or no license.

So, what would you do? Should I just stay home and wait to hear how it went from our cw? or Should I go and sit in the hall beings they probably will not let me in the courtroom? Is there any way to find out ahead of time if I would be allowed in?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

[lakin11]

Marion Co here....we have gone. We were subpoena'd as well. The CW said we might be asked to sit out, only come in when called, but we could wait inside the court room. None of the lawyers asked us to leave, so we were there for the whole 3 days. Even on 1 when bio mom failed to appear. TPR ended up getting tossed out/denied, that was over 1 1/2 yrs ago. We are going back to TPR trial again. We'll be at however many days there are.

With the normal CHINS judge, she remarked last hearing that we (DH and I) were the only ones on the case, including bio mom, who had attended every hearing. In 3 1/2 yrs, other than the first 2 hearings, which were held before she became our FD, we've been to every hearing. Bio mom has been to less than 50%.

I'd go...but then again, I am not hoping for more placements after this, and right now, they love us at DCS.

[Lori1001]

I am in St. Joe county. and I was there for tpr hearing. They had me in front of the judge ( with CW ) and I was asked only simple questions ( and silly now but I guess they have to ask) like did I want to adopt. I also had been to every hearing there had been through out the course of all this.. I suppose there has to be some differences because I am foster parent.. as well as grandmother. But I thought all FP's were welcome to be there and have a voice for the children.If they chose to be.

[EandDmom]

We have been told to expect to be there and that at least one of us (probably me) will be subpoena'd.

[Becki_in_IN]

We went to the girls. We didn't go for kyle because we didn't know.

[momma24rn]

We are in the exact same situation. TPR trial starts next week and we were suprised not to have received the notice or a subpeona. We toohave been to every other hearing for our FS. Our CW said we "probably would not have to testify, we could go if we wanted but she was not sure if we would be allowed in the courtroom.
We are definantly going. Even if we have to sit in the courthouse lobby all day, we want them to know "someone" is there for J. Our lawyer also said sometimes this is where the parents decide to voluntarily relinquish, since we've heard talk that at least one parent is leaning that way, we want to be present-even if we cant be in the courtroom

Good luck with everything. I hope it goes well.