Orange County California Adult Adoption
Even though the law of adult adoption is the same throughout the state of California, each courthouse has its own way of doing things. Not complying with the procedural rules of each courthouse can doom your adult adoption request. Therefore, knowing how each court handles an adult adoption can make a huge difference.
Here is how the adult adoption process is handled in the Orange County Courthouse, which has jurisdiction over adult adoption claims in cities like Brea, Stanton, Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Garden Grove, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton, Fountain Valley, La Habra, Placentia, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Yorba Linda, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Tustin, Orange, Westminster, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point and Costa Mesa.
Fill Out and File Required Court Forms
The first step towards getting an adult adoption approved by the Orange County Courthouse is to fill out the following forms on pleading paper.
- Petition for an adult adoption
- Adoption agreement
- Spousal consent forms, if either the adoptive parent or the adoptee is married
- Order of adoption
Importantly, these forms need to be filled out on pleading paper—a court form that has bound sides and numbered lines—and includes very specific kinds of information. Having a lawyer help you prepare these documents can make a big difference in the outcome of your adoption request.
You will also need to formally request a hearing at the Orange County Court, where a judge will have the opportunity to approve your adult adoption request. To request this hearing, you will need to also file a Memorandum for Setting a Hearing.
Once completed and properly prepared, these documents need to be submitted to the Family Law Department at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, on the 7th Floor in Room 702.
Preparing for the Adoption Hearing at the Orange County Court
As the hearing date approaches, there will be two things you need to do in preparation.
First, you will want to obtain a copy of a VS-44 Form, also known as a Court Report of Adoption. Neither the adoptee nor the adoptive parent has to fill this form out, though. It is enough to bring it, still blank, to the adoption hearing.
Second, you will also need to bring the Order of Adoption form to your hearing, as well as any necessary documentation that you have not filed already.
At the Adoption Hearing
Both the adoptee and the adoptive parent need to be present at the adoption hearing. Having an adult adoption lawyer can also be a big help because the judge will be asking pointed questions to make sure the adoption is not being done for an ulterior motive or will not violate California's legal requirements.
After the Adoption Hearing
If the hearing goes well, the judge will sign the Order of Adoption and you can file the completed Order with the court. Once the Order is filed, the VS-44 Form will be completed and sent to the Office of Vital Records where the adoptee's birth certificate can be amended according to the requests made on the Form.
The Orange County Superior Court has provided a valuable information page about Adult Adoption in Orange County California.
Orange County Adult Adoption Attorney John J. Pearson
Unfortunately, even small mistakes can doom an adult adoption request in Orange County. Having an attorney like John J. Pearson on hand to guide you through the process can make it go smoothly. Contact him online to get the legal help you need.