General Information
Adoption Definitions:
Adoptive Parent(s): means a person who has obtained an order
of adoption of a minor child or, in the case of an adult adoption, an
adult.
Adoption Agency: means the adoption of a minor, other than an
intercountry adoption, in which the California Department of Social
Services or a licensed adoption agency is a party to, or joins in, the
adoption request.
Birth Parent: means the biological parent, or in the case
of a person previously adopted, the adoptive parent.
Independent Adoption: means the adoption of a child in which the California Department of Social Services is
neither a party to or
joins in the adoption request.
Intercountry Adoption: means the adoption of a foreign-born
child for whom federal law makes a special immigration visa
available. Intercountry adoption includes completion of the
adoption in the child's native country or completion of the adoption in
the state of residency of the petitioner(s)/adopting parent(s).
Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoption: means an adoption of a child by a
stepparent or domestic partner where one birth parent retains custody and control of the
child.
Adoption of Adults and Married Minors: means an adult may be
adopted by another adult, including a stepparent and a married minor may
be adopted in the same manner as adult. (There are no Judicial
Council Forms available for these types of adoptions).
Due to the strict laws regarding the confidentiality of records, no information will be given over the telephone regarding any
file, since proper identification cannot be
established.
Copies of Documents
Due to the strict laws regarding the confidentiality of adoption
files, individuals who have been adopted are not permitted to see their
adoption records without an order of the court. Further, if the
court grants an adopted person the right to inspect or have copies of
their adoption record, court staff are not permitted to provide documents for inspection or for copying to any person other than the
adopting parent(s) and their attorney of record, unless the name of the
child's birth parents or any other information tending to identify the
child's birth parents is deleted from the documents or copies.
If you are the adopting parent(s) or attorney of record for
the adopting parent(s), you must come to the William R. Ridgeway Family
Relations Courthouse, located at 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, 1/2
mile south of Folsom Blvd, to obtain any information from the
file. The Family Law Records, Room 102, is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
holidays. Adoption files more than two years old are stored off-site and will take 3-5
business days to access.
Written requests for documents can only be honored if the signature
of the adoptive parent or parents is notarized.
For additional information regarding obtaining copies of an adoption
click here.
Forms
All adoptions require the use of mandatory forms from Judicial Council of
California, with the exception of adult adoptions as there are no
mandatory forms developed by Judicial Council. Please go to the
Sacramento County Law Library for reference materials regarding adult
adoptions.
If you are seeking an INDEPENDENT, AGENCY, OR INTERCOUNTRY adoption:
1) Complete the Adoption Request and file it in the county in which you reside. Sacramento County residents
can file at the Family Law Filing Counter, Room
100 of the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations
Courthouse, 3341 Power
Inn Road, Sacramento, 1/2 mile south of Folsom Blvd.
2) Make sure that all consents, accounting reports, relinquishments, and/or
termination of parental rights procedures are complete.
If you are a stepparent or a domestic partner seeking adoption of a STEPPARENT'S/DOMESTIC
PARTNER'S child:
1) Complete the Adoption Request and file it in the county in which you reside. Sacramento County residents file at the Family Law Filing Counter, Room
100 of the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations
Courthouse, 3341 Power
Inn Road, Sacramento, 1/2 mile south of Folsom Blvd.
2) Make sure that the following documents are filed:
(a) Consent of the
other person who will continue to be the child's parent.
(b) Consent or proof
of death of the parent you will replace; or a petition to
terminate that person's parental rights.
(c) Proof of service
of the petition and notice to the parent you will replace if
that
person has not consented to the adoption.
Fees
A filing fee is required at the time of
filing petition for adoption. Check our fees
page for further information.
Setting an Adoption Hearing
After an Adoption Request and Adoption Report
have been
filed, you may proceed with setting an
adoption hearing at the Family Law filing counter at the William R.
Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse, located at 3341 Power Inn Road,
half a mile south of Folsom Blvd. The filing counter is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding court
holidays. When setting an adoption hearing, you must bring
two copies of the filed adoption request. The
court will retain one copy and the clerk will return the other copy to
you.
State Adoption Month
On July 16, 1999, the Judicial of Council of California issued a
Resolution signed by the Chief Justice of California and the Chair of
the Judicial of
Council of California proclaiming November to be "Court Adoption
and Permanency Month," in which courts and their local communities
are encouraged to join together to engage in activities including
Saturday adoptions, evening adoptions, and other projects to expedite
permanency.
Sacramento County recognizes "Court Adoption and Permanency
Month" by holding an "Adoption Day" on a Saturday during
November. Court staff, the Department of Health and Human
Services, and private adoption agencies work to expedite completion of
pending adoptions in order to allow parties to finalize on this special
day. A reception complete with clowns, refreshments, face
painting, artwork, and each child's adoption of their own Beanie Baby
Bear adds to the festive atmosphere and makes the day a even more
memorable one.
For more information on adopting a child, call the Sacramento County
Department of Health and Human Services Adoption Program at (916)
875-5967.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective foster/adoptive parents may work with Sacramento County
or private foster/adoption agencies if they wish to provide a nurturing
home for children in need. The following are some of the questions
frequently asked by families considering adoption:
- What do we have to do to become a foster/adoption family?
First, the private foster/adoption agency or county asks you to
complete an application. When it is returned, you will begin the
process, which includes orientation, training, a home study, and
documentation of compliance with state regulations.
- What financial support is provided?
Financial support is provided during the period in which the
child is in foster care and continues after adoption for a period of
time. The amount received to help support the child, and how
long that support continues, depends on many factors, including
whether he or she was adopted through an adoption agency or the
county, the child's age, and the child's circumstances.
- What are the requirements to be foster/adoptive parent?
There are several requirements mandated by state
regulations. They are intended to insure that a child will be
in a warm, safe, and healthy environment. Foster/adoptive
parents need to show that they are in good health, that there is
adequate income in the home to meet the family's needs, adequate bed
space, and other requirements.
- What is adequate bed space?
There can be no more than two children of the same sex to a
bedroom and each child must have his or her own bed.
- Do foster/adoptive parents have the right to choose who gets
placed in their homes?
Definitely. The decision to place a child is a joint
decision. Your family, the child, and the social worker must
all feel comfortable with the placement. The usual procedure
would involve the social worker calling you after receiving a
referral that was felt would fit into your home. A discussion
of the child would determine your interest. If interested,
there would be pre-placement visits for you and the child to meet
each other. If that went well, plans could be made for
placement.
- Do we treat foster children just like own children?
Yes, with some exceptions. For example, state law
prohibits corporal punishment being used on foster children.
Foster children also have the right to attend the church of their
choice or not to attend.
- May we be foster/adoptive parents even if we both work?
Certainly. Like with everything else, the county will work with
you to determine what type of child would best fit into your
lifestyle.
- Can single persons qualify?
Yes.
- What types of children are placed through foster/adoptive
programs?
Children are referred to private foster/adoption agencies and
county programs from child protection programs throughout the
state. Most of these children have been removed from their
birth families due to abuse or neglect. Children range from
infancy to 18, with most of the children between the ages of 1 and
8. We encourage the placement of siblings with the same
family. Highly capable and nurturing families are needed.
For more information, call Sacramento County Department of Health and
Human Services Adoption Program at (916)875-5967.
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