Some States impose criminal penalties on anyone who violates this law. The Adoption Court Process Place of Adoption Hearing Adoption hearings take place in State courts. Generally the hearings occur in the county where the adoptee or the adoptive parents live or where the agency that has custody of the child is located. The legal steps to an adoption begin with a petition. As a general rule, prior notice of the adoption hearing must be given to all persons required to consent to the adoption, unless they have given up their rights to such notice.
Many States also require that notice be given to the child to be adopted.
The parties given notice are required to respond within a specified time period, usually between 20 and 30 days. The method of giving parties notice varies from State to State. All adoptions are based upon the consent of persons or agencies legally empowered with the care or custody of the child. In most States, the consent must be in writing and either witnessed and notarized or executed before a judge or other designated official. Many State statutes specifically permit a minor parent to consent.