The attorney will review the Consent and Agreement form with the adoptive families. Their responses will be on the court records. Adoptive children ages 12 and up will be sworn in and questioned by the Judge. The child signs the form as well. The judge then grants the adoption.
Family members are now free to leave or to take pictures with the judge.
After the finalization hearing, it takes approximately two to four weeks for court jurisdiction over the child to be terminated. The CSW is responsible for requesting the termination. It also takes from six to eight months to receive your child's new birth certificate. Your DCFS CSW will take care of the paperwork for you. Once court jurisdiction has been terminated this child is now legally a member of your family forever.