Finalize the Adoption

At the end of the monitoring period, documents are filed with the court to initiate the legal aspect of finalizing the adoption. Through these documents, adoptive parents formally request permission to adopt a specific child. Upon finalization, the court issues a document confirming the adoption placement. Depending on where you live in Canada, this is often called an Adoption Order.

In most cases, your child welfare authorities will prepare all the necessary documents for the court. For the necessary stipulations, contact your social worker or agency to learn how to proceed with the finalization of your child’s adoption.

Your newly created family must go through the finalization process in order to legally complete the adoption. Finalization hearings usually take place within six to twelve months after a child is placed in the home. If you are adopting through a public child welfare authority, the court will schedule the hearing and the public child welfare authority will do the necessary paper work. You may not even have to appear in court or in some cases be allowed to appear. This is different in all jurisdictions and may also depend on the age of a child. Check with your social worker to learn what the process is in your jurisdiction.

Even if you adopted through a private agency, the agency will, in most cases, prepare all the required documents for the court. In many provinces and territories if you are completing a kinship adoption or step-parent adoption, you may acquire a self-help kit at the court and complete the adoption on your own. Again check with the ministry or local agency to learn what the procedures are in your province or territory.

What the Hearing Involves

To verify that the adoption should occur, the court will attempt to establish that the child has been placed in a safe, loving home. The agency that is representing you will give their final report and recommendation to the court as required depending on the jurisdiction where you reside.

As soon as the judge signs the Adoption Order, you gain permanent legal custody of your child. Finalization is the last formal step in the adoption process, and the official beginning of your new family.