Quick update!
Thank you to everyone who was praying over the hearing last week. Nothing changed at the hearing itself, but we do have good news. Step 1: Pre-trial hearing - November 9th
Step 2: Termination hearing - 3-6 weeks after Nov 9th
Step 3: Verdict rendered - About 2-3 weeks after termination hearing
Step 4: Waiting period - 30 days
Step 5: Adoption - Unknown
So that's it! The first part of termination happens on November 9th. Some questions I expect: Do you have to do visits between the Nov 9th hearing and the termination ruling? Yes. Visitation only ends when the judge officially decides on termination of rights. What if a parent appeals? Do they get visitation again? Nope! Visitation would only resume if the judge decided to accept their appeal and overturn the termination ruling. How long after the judge gives his termination (or appeal) ruling can you adopt? No idea. Currently, while we wait for this process to unfold, we are already going through the application, reference, interview process to get approved to become her adoptive parents. Do we have to/can we attend any of the termination hearings? No we don't have to, especially because of COVID. But even if we could, I don't think we would.
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It's been a little bit since I updated.
A lot has changed and yet nothing at all. Makes sense, right?! Well, as I said in the blog post in April, our case has moved to the Adoption unit and we have a new caseworker. Nothing has changed so far. Baby Girl still has visitation twice a week and the county hasn't requested a termination hearing yet. HOWEVER, our case has another "Permanency Review Hearing" on September 15. Officially, it's to review the status of the birth parents progress (the same hearings we have had 4 times in this process so far). Up until now, the previous 4 hearings, I was informed nothing would change. This time, things are different. Two main things could happen at this hearing that would affect the case:
A few things that the judge will possibly take into consideration when making decisions regarding the case:
We won't be in the hearing like we normally are because of the COVID restrictions currently all over the place, but I should hear about the results soon after the hearing is complete. REQUEST: If you think of us between now and then, would you be willing to pray for us? This hearing feels different in many ways as all the others, even though it is the same type of hearing we have had many times already. It doesn't seem like Baby Girl is going anywhere, but as always, the entire process is out of our hands. Once we have answers, I will update the blog again. But for now, please pray that we have peace as we wait to hear results, that God grants wisdom and discernment to the judge (master) in charge of the case, and that all pertinent information be brought to light so that the best decision can be made for Baby Girl's future. |
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