Adoption finalization - who is there?

I cannot seem to get a straight answer on this.

Our adoption becomes finalized next Friday, however, I have asked my social worker and my son's 2 caseworkers if anyone from my son's first family would be there and I keep getting a different answer (mostly non-committal)

My son's former foster family will be there (they are remaining in our lives) and of course my family, but I just wanted to know if any of his first family would be there.

Do they even know that it's happening?

My son's grandmother hasn't seen him in a year and a half and his first parents haven't seen him since he was 6 months old. He was removed from their custody due to abuse at 2 months old. There was a restraining order out on his parents due to threats made on the caseworkers and the past abuse, but it ended earlier in the year.

I'm not concerned about them stopping the adoption; their rights have already been terminated a year and a half ago, I am just wondering if they could or would be there.

Looney Tunes

Hello Kazi,

From my knowledge (which is + on the subject), because the rights were terminated and the child was removed because of abuse, the first family should have NO knowledge of you or where their child is. No names, addresses, phone numbers, nothing. Safety reasons for both you and the child.

This is NOT a termination hearing...this is an adoption. He is already legally free from his first family. They have no rights to him anymore.

Also, in some states, you will not be given any more information about the first family.

CONGRATS on the adoption! And thanks for helping a kid in need!!!!

IDK!!

for us all 4 parents were there for the relinquishment hearing and just us at the finalization hearing

Molly D

I don't know but i'm thinking since they lost their rights they may not even know about the adoption day. As i understand birth parents are not given information after they lose their parental rights.

Good luck.

r s

they have lost their parental rights and are not informed of anything.... if you want to hunt them up and bring them into your life I am sure that would not be too hard...

this is not like infant adoption, Parents who are TPRd on are not placing the child with you... they have no rights, the state gov. is currently the child's legal parent until you finalize...

Randy B

If this adoption has been done through social services then chances are the first family will not be there or be required to be there. Usually, before it gets to the adoption phase, their rights have been terminated and they have little to no (most likely no) contact.

If your courts are like ours they are open to the public and they "could" be there but chances are they are not even aware of what is going on and for them the process stopped months (or longer) ago. Unless they happened to be watching the family court docket they would not even be aware.

Congratulations by the way.

Santa's Lil' Helper

6 weeks and counting.
Two family members age 8 and age 14.
We finalized in April with our seven year old. Because the children are all related to each other and to me the state has allowed us to adopt the other two in the same year.

When dd's adoption was finalized in April mom and dad were not notified even though they gave consent to terminate their parental rights.

The fourteen year old is my dd's biological sister and they couldn't be happier to be together.

grapesgum

Ugh - I feel for you. It is probably anyone's guess. Sometimes abusive first families make big noises about their rights and then never show up. I have heard other cases where they suddenly show up claiming remorse and rehabilitation.

Wishing you all the best. Thank you for providing a home for a child who needs one.

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