[JJemail1]

...to let you all know that guardianship (TPR) was granted in our case!

By the way, did you know that you can file the application for adoption the same day as TPR and finalize as soon as 46 days later? You can and we did! No one at DYFS (not even our law guardian) knew this but when I interviewed potential lawyers to represent us in the adoption I picked all of their brains and clarified the issue. We went with a lawyer who said he would wait at the court until he received the call from us that TPR went through and file right there on the spot. You just need to know the parents' names, date of TPR, foster child's full legal name and then you provide your names, address, place of employment and income. (This is just for the filing of the application...a preliminary and/or finalization hearing entails the more granular details that are contained in the adoption packet DYFS does.)

I just wanted to post this as I know that, previously, many of us thought we had to wait until after appeal to file. Not so--one just has to wait until after the appeal period to finalize.

If you know about our journey, you can imagine how overjoyed we are. I'll let all know if/how the adoption goes in a couple of months.

Jennifer

[RobinR]

Congratulations!

[gigisam]

Wow, JJ, you must be thrilled!
Congratulations.
Thanks for the tip, too, we're getting TPR (hopefully, finally) June 20th so that's good to know.

[vernellinnj]

Jen,

That's wonderful, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Question, was there no trial because your daughter's parents are unknown? Didn't realize guardianship could be granted without a trial. Lord willing, I will contact you for your lawyer's name/contact info. I'd like to use the same person when my case gets to that point.

[JJemail1]

Hi Vernell,

A trial is not required if:

a) The parents are known but missing (our case)... although, a thorough search for the parents and an "affidavit of inquiry" for each parent is required, which sometimes takes longer than serving the parents and going to trial.

b) Parents are served but don't show to the proof hearing (TPR by "default")

c) Parents surrender rights

I failed to mention that, in order to file for adoption on or shortly after the day of TPR, one's DYFS adoption packet has to be finished or close to it. I'll be happy to provide you with our lawyer's number (especially if he works the magic he claims he will...we'll see). Nonetheless, this is the easy part!

Jennifer

[RandomReality]

Oh my God! This is so great!!! I am SOOOO happy for you. Do you have pictures of your little one? I would love to see them. PM me and I will give you my e-mail. Soooooo happy for you, especially after all your went through with your first little angel. So, so happy!!!!!