Adoptions

Types of Adoptions Court Rules – 5:10

Agency Placement: Child is placed by an approved agency in the State of New Jersey (DCP&P) for the purpose of adoption. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Order, original Consent by Agency, Termination of Parental Rights, copy of child’s birth certificate. Order is signed. Agency Report with State and Federal fingerprint checks, CARI checks and Promis-Gavel checks, medical check list is submitted. Certification from agency stating that neither the child nor the child’s biological parents are members or eligible to be members of a federally recognized Indian tribe in accordance with the requirements set forth in R. 5:10-6, it is unaware of any pending concurrent adoption action existing in another county, whether the plaintiff(s) have entered into a subsidy agreement if applicable, in DCP&P cases, the adoptee’s verified current social security number, and that the card will be supplied to the plaintiff(s) if available. Final hearing date is set within 10 to 30 days.

Stepparent & Co-ParentChild comes under the custody and control of plaintiff for purpose of adoption because of marriage. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Order, Consent of custodial parent, copy of child’s birth certificate, copy of Civil Union. Non-custodial parent does not have to consent, but he/she must receive notice of the hearing. Copy of Notice to Parent, Proof of Service (must mail by regular & certified mail with return receipt). Order is signed and final hearing date is set within two to three months. Union County waives the agency investigation unless the background checks come back with a record, but the stepparent/co-parent & any other adults in the home must have State and Federal fingerprint and CARI checks (except biological parent). If fingerprints are not filed with the complaint, the Order Setting Hearing Date must provide a provision that orders the fingerprint check and they must be submitted 10 days before the hearing. Hearing date is set within two to three months.

Same Sex, Opposite Sex (Gestational/In Vitro Fertilization): Couples who cannot conceive and carry a pregnancy to term and are adopting the child when it is born. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Certification of birth mother, Certification of Dr., and Judgment.

Confirmatory Adoption: Plaintiff is the non-biological parent of a child conceived through sperm donation is not a stepparent. This that the plaintiff is the child’s full legal parent through marriage and confirming the plaintiff’s rights through adoption. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Order for Hearing, Copy of Civil Union or Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate with both parties listed as parents, Certification by both parties that describes in sufficient detail how the child was conceived.

Relative: Child comes under the custody of a relative for purpose of adoption because birth parent(s) cannot take care of child. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Order, copy of child’s birth certificate. Birth parents do not have to consent, but they must receive notice of the hearing. Court appoints agency to do a limited investigation. It is the Plaintiff(s) obligation to pay the agency’s fee. Order is signed. Agency Report with fingerprint check & CARI check is submitted. Final hearing date is set within two to three months.

Private: When plaintiff(s) receives the child to be adopted from a source other than an agency, relative or stepparent. This is by far the most complex type of adoption and the one that offers the most pitfalls to the parties involved and the Court. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint (complaint must have attached to it an affidavit of non-military service in accordance with R. 1:5-7, Order for Hearing, copy of child’s birth certificate, Affidavit of Circumstances, Affidavit of Expenses, Interstate Compact (if child born in another state). Birth parents must receive notice of the hearing by certified, return receipt and regular mail. Proof of Service and copy of Notice to Parents. Preliminary hearing date is set, agency is appointed to investigate and submit report with fingerprint checks and CARI checks. This preliminary hearing is set in 60 to 90 days. Upon completion of PH, agency is assigned duty as next friend to supervise over the next six to nine months. At the end of this period, the agency either consents or opposes the adoption. Second and final hearing has no appearance by plaintiffs. The Court must receive a supplemental agency report before the final hearing.

Foreign Re-Adoption: In most cases when a child is adopted from another country, the child is abandoned by the birth parents or the birth mother surrenders her rights and does not name the birth father. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, Order, Affidavit of Expenses, copies of the Decree of Adoption, Adoption Registration Certificate, Certificate/Statement of Guardian, Certificate of Abandonment, Fingerprint & CARI checks. The agency that completed the pre-adoptive home study does the report for the Court. Certified copies of immigration visa, birth certificate, copies of all foreign adoption paperwork with English translation. No one has to be notified. There is one hearing.

Adult: Court Rule 5:11 – When someone wants to adopt an adult 18 years of age or older. Papers required for filing are: Verified Complaint, which shall state 1. Name, age & place of residence of the plaintiff & the adoptee, 2. Adoptee’s new name, if any, 3. Full description of adoptee’s property. Filed with the complaint, a request for the adoption & name change by the adoptee. Order for Hearing, Consent of spouses. Copy of adoptee’s birth certificate. May be filed in the plaintiff’s or the adoptees county.

Note

Stepparent, Relative and Private Adoptions – natural parents have right to object.

Court Fee

$175.00

Check or money order should be made payable to the Union County Surrogate.

Lawyer Referral

908-353-4715

Legal Services

908-354-4240

Surrogate Court Adoption

908-527-4288