Help me know what to expect of court (foster/adopt)

[DawnM]

I just got info about all of our court dates.   Four of them in the next 5 weeks or so.

5/20/2021.         Mediation  

05/25/2021        Hearing (outcome of the mediation, relinquish or TPR trial)

06/08/2021       Permanency Planning Hearing  

06/17/2021        Trial  

 

Ok, so I know what mediation looks like and I can guess what the hearing will look like, but what is the purpose fo the permanency planning hearing before the trial date?   

I am told that if we go to trial it may get ugly.   That can only be fun.....😬

[Melissa in Australia]

 

 

Hope it all goes well

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Melissa in Australia

[Katy]

NM

Edited May 12, 2021 by Katy

[Spryte]

It’s nerve-wracking, all of it.  I can try to pm you and share our experience, if that would help.  

[Carrie12345]

8 hours ago, DawnM said:

 but what is the purpose fo the permanency planning hearing before the trial date

My limited (to your receiving state) understanding is that that step completes the checklist of requirements for TPR. Without an official adoption or adoption-like plan in place, they try to avoid TPRing.

[Ottakee]

Katy explained it so well.   It is a long and emotional journey....but so worth it.

[DawnM]

1 hour ago, Carrie12345 said:

My limited (to your receiving state) understanding is that that step completes the checklist of requirements for TPR. Without an official adoption or adoption-like plan in place, they try to avoid TPRing.

Is this a mandatory court date type thing?   Because this has been in place since before we got him.   And every time we have court they ask if we are still an adoptive resource.   We always say yes.

[Carrie12345]

Just now, DawnM said:

Is this a mandatory court date type thing?   Because this has been in place since before we got him.   And every time we have court they ask if we are still an adoptive resource.   We always say yes.

My (again, limited) understanding is that it covers the more paperwork, legal/financial arrangements, etc. vs. verbal affirmation, for immediate implementation after trial.
We were... “earmarked”, I guess you could say, as a willing adoptive placement for the purpose of choosing the best temporary-to-perm home, but definitely not the same as going through all the Title this and Code that to legally qualify and implement an actual adoption plan, which differs from all the financial and legal foster forms.

[DawnM]

8 hours ago, Katy said:

The permanency planning hearing is just for the judge to hear what the long-term plan for the child will be.  In this case the social worker will say it should be you, and the judge will agree to change the goal to adoption, and possibly designate that the child should be adopted by you, although sometimes it's just adoption and the worker has to list other adoption options,

I hope it is ok to quote the above info.

All of that has already been done.   the goal was changed to TPR and adoption.   I have already been named.   Goal was changed in December, and then in April for court her lawyer requested the goal to go back to reunification and the judge said no.   TPR was given to the alleged birth father and any others who might want this child (the wording was something about any potential fathers and any relatives who may want to take this child and if you don't show up on this date, you have no rights to the child).   No one else showed up.

Our paperwork has already gone to the adoption specialist.   

In that state (NV) the adoption lawyer is $500 and it is 100% reimbursable.   

Once we adopt we will also get all our expenses paid out back, which I think will be around $2,000.   Plane fare to get him, adding gates for the pool, etc....

[Katy]

29 minutes ago, DawnM said:

I hope it is ok to quote the above info.

All of that has already been done.   the goal was changed to TPR and adoption.   I have already been named.   Goal was changed in December, and then in April for court her lawyer requested the goal to go back to reunification and the judge said no.   TPR was given to the alleged birth father and any others who might want this child (the wording was something about any potential fathers and any relatives who may want to take this child and if you don't show up on this date, you have no rights to the child).   No one else showed up.

Our paperwork has already gone to the adoption specialist.   

In that state (NV) the adoption lawyer is $500 and it is 100% reimbursable.   

Once we adopt we will also get all our expenses paid out back, which I think will be around $2,000.   Plane fare to get him, adding gates for the pool, etc....

Then I’m not sure.  The judge might formally restate what was already done.  I have had that happen before. 

[Hilltopmom]

Permanency hearings have to occur every 6 months, even if adoption is already scheduled. It’s just to continue to plan for a way towards permanency, be it TPR, reunification, adoption. 
here, once TPR talks start happening, they start to encourage voluntary TPR and change the child’s official permanency goal to “adoption”. At each permanency hearing they examine the goal and decide if it should change at that point in the case.

Edited May 13, 2021 by Hilltopmom

[DawnM]

GRRRR......they just moved the trial date to July 2nd from June 17.   I sure hope I don't have to continue these stupid calls until then.

[Scarlett]

Dawn is she going to show up in person for this hearing?

[Ottakee]

45 minutes ago, DawnM said:

GRRRR......they just moved the trial date to July 2nd from June 17.   I sure hope I don't have to continue these stupid calls until then.

Ugg   delays are the name of the game sadly.

[DawnM]

10 hours ago, Scarlett said:

Dawn is she going to show up in person for this hearing?

I have no idea.   I am not.

[DawnM]

I am hoping I don't have to go in person to the July 2nd one.   I will have to buy a plane ticket in advance and if they change it again.......argh!

[Starr]

Hang on, you can do this. I can't imagine how stressful it is. Many hugs to you.