Court hearings and SW attendance

[ChoccyJules]

We have two dates for our AO hearings, an initial one and a final one a few weeks later. Child's SW has been asked to attend the second one. Our SW is also going to go to this one. Nobody we know will be at the first hearing.
I feel quite odd about this, it feels like someone linked to us should be there but obviously we can't go. Is this usual?

Not sure. If it is unlikely to be contested I would not worry. If it is being contested (and the first hearing is to hear application for leave to appeal) then yes, your sw and child's sw need to be there.

Birth parent here, both the adoptors social worker and LO's social workers missed some court dates. One went as far as not submitting paper work which was a huge pain in the backside. One not attending isn't unusual in my experience

Is this usual? Yep, pretty usual. Little will happen at the first hearing, even if it were contested, I'm not sure leave to appeal would be granted at the first hearing.

If you don't get a great deal of info from the SWs you can always ring the court directly- I found them to be very helpful.

We won't know until the first hearing whether it will be contested, that's why I thought one of them should be there. But I guess it doesn't change anything.

If BPs go along and ask for leave to appeal, how do we get to know about this?

If the parents ask for leave to appeal the judge will schedule a subsequent hearing to see if they have enough evidence to be given leave to appeal at all. They cant automatically challenge at this stage but have to prove that things have changed significantly .
Even if they have evidence the judge can still refuse leave and grant the adop order . Even if leave is granted it is v v v unlikely to make any difference to the eventual outcome but judges like to give birth parents every chance to have their say in court to avoid any loopholes for appeal.
There could be several hearings if parents contest and sw should keep you informed or you can ring court and ask.
One final thing which many people inc lots of sw dont know. When the adop order is granted the parents have 21 days to ask for leave to appeal against the granting of the order so even then they can string it out. However the good news is that it is extremely unlikely that the eventual outcome will be anything other than a successful adoption so sit tight , try not to worry and you will get there in the end !

Thanks, it feels really strange that this is about all our lives but nobody was there for us yesterday. I guess I will ring the court just so I know if BPs did ask for leave to appeal. Save me wondering.

Given the LA have PR, it doesn't feel right to me that they would not attend court for "their" children. What kind of good parent would choose not to attend, or have something more important? I think it shows the contempt SWs actually have for their role as "corporate parent".

Very true thomas.

And yes choccy adoption is a weird thing. As you say so many people are controlling your lifes direction and half of them havent even met you or your kids. It can be v frustrating !