[piglets]

HI question for you..We have our FS who has been with us 8 months..He was legally free coming into our home..I thought the adoption process is 6 months from time they arrive into your home..is this true or can I expect alot longer until he is legally ours?? thanks

[leenab]

It should be soon. Here were the timelines for our adoptions:
#1, TPR about 39 days after placement, adoption: 8 1/2 months after placement

#2, legally free at placement but had to deal with appeals, adoption: 1 year 2 days after placement

#3, legally free at placement (select home adoption), adoption: 7 1/2 months after placement.

I would imagine you should be finalizing some time soon, based on my experience with the adoption system.

It's at the 6 month point that the paperwork can be submitted to the supervior, up the ladder and then the courts.

I know we did the paperwork with #3 when he was placed with us, and DYFS held onto it. Then we had a few papers to sign for the attorney.

-Leena

[piglets]

thanks for replying..I would think they should have done paperwork in the 6 month waiting period but we didnt even get assigned a CW until Jan (not her fault she is awesome) he was select home adoption and we had problems on who was going to do everything since different counties involved. The supervisor called me yesterday asking about spelling of my name.so guess I can expect a few more month since paperwork is still with the supervisor..right? or once submitted does it get to court pretty soon??
thanks again

[leenab]

Our select adoption was from Union county and we're in Burlington, so a difference in counties shouldn't be an issue. #3 was able to keep a caseworker from Union county, although it did change a month into as his old worker was transfered to another office.

If the paperwork is with the supervisor it shouldn't take another month for it to get to your attorney. Maybe a week or two at the most. And then you should be able to get a fast court date. I know the courts slow down/go on vacation at some point in the summer. I hope you get in before that point.

If you didn't have a caseworker who was doing the 6 month supervision? I know those are part of the consent to adopt packet, just states that child A has been supervised in you home.

Have you selected an attonrey yet? What counties does your attorney like to work with? Most will work with any county as they love doing adoptions. Once the attorney has the paperwork he can let you know which county is fastest at the moment, and file in that county.

So far we've used 3 different attonries for adoption and liked all 3 of them. They were all very fast and on top of things. Which is something you definately want them to be.

If you're getting a subsidy, hopefully you've done the paperwork for it already. DYFS should pay for the attorney directly.

-Leena

[piglets]

Well i found out that the delay was due to since he was not adopted when he turned 3 we needed to get him to a dentist before they can file..On his 3rd bday I got an appt but they couldnt get us in for a couple of weeks so once that is done the supervisor will sign off on it..
We will be getting subsidy and did the paperwork with CW ..is tha what you are talking about ?? thanks again for all the help