Fill and Sign the How to Adopt a Child in California California Form

ADOPT-050 How to Adopt a Child in California In California, there are several kinds of adoption. Learn about stepparent/domestic partner adoptions on page 1, and independent, agency, and international adoptions on page 2. Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoptions If you want to adopt your stepchild or the child of your domestic partner, fill out and file the forms listed below. You can get them from the court clerk or from the California Courts Self-Help Web site: www.courtinfo.ca.gov Fill out court forms. [ ] ADOPT 200 Adoption Request This tells the judge about you and the child you are adopting. [ ] ADOPT-210 Adoption Agreement This tells the judge that you and the child, if over 12, agree to the adoption. Fill it out, but do not sign it until the judge says so. [ ] ADOPT-215 Adoption Order The judge signs this form if your adoption is approved. Take your forms to court. Take the completed forms to the court clerk in the county where you live. The court will charge a filing fee. Or, if you have a lawyer or are using an agency, take the forms to them. The social worker writes a report. In every adoption, a social worker writes a report. This report gives important information to the judge about the adopting parents and the child. The social worker will ask you questions. You may have to fill out forms. The social worker will file the report with the court and send you a copy. When you get the report, ask the clerk for a date for your adoption hearing. Go to court on the date of your hearing. Bring: [ ] The child you are adopting [ ] Form ADOPT-210 [ ] Form ADOPT-215 [ ] A camera, if you want a photo of you and your child with the judge [ ] Friends/relatives Judicial Council of California Rev. January 1, 2003, Optional Form How to Adopt a Child in California 4 A D O P T - 0 5 0 , P a g e 1 o f 2elec troni c form WWW.LawCA.com L a w P u b l i s h e r s1 432 ADOPT-050 How to Adopt a Child in California Independent, Agency, or International Adoptions If this is an independent, agency, or international adoption, fill out and file the forms below. You can get them from the court clerk or from the California Courts Self-Help Web site: www.courtinfo.ca.gov Fill out and file court forms. [ ] ADOPT-200 Adoption Request This tells the judge about you and the child you are adopting. [ ] ADOPT-210 Adoption Agreement This tells the judge that you and the child, if over 12, agree to the adoption. Fill it out, but do not sign it until the judge says so. [ ] ADOPT-215 Adoption Order The judge signs this form if your adoption is approved. [ ] ADOPT-230 Adoption Expenses This tells the judge about all your adoption expenses. The social worker writes a report. In every adoption, a social worker writes a report. This report gives important information to the judge about the adopting parents and the child. The social worker will ask you questions. You may have to fill out forms. The social worker will file the report and send you a copy. When you get the report, ask the clerk for a date for your adoption hearing. Go to court on the date of your hearing. Bring: [ ] The child you are adopting [ ] Form ADOPT-21 0 [ ] Form ADOPT-215 [ ] Form ADOPT-230 [ ] A camera, if you want a photo of you and your child with the judge [ ] Friends/relatives Is this an "open" adoption? If you want your child to have contact with his or her birth family, fill out ADOPT-310, which asks for an open adoption. If you are adopting an Indian child ... Also fill out and bring: [ ] Form ADOPT-220 Adoption of Indian Child [ ] Form ADOPT-225 Parent of Indian Child Agrees to End Parental Rights Judicial Council of California Rev. January 1, 2003, Optional Form How to Adopt a Child in California 5 A D O P T - 0 5 0 , P a g e 2 o f 2 elec troni c form WWW.LawCA.com L a w P u b l i s h e r s54321