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Adoption

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Original poster

Final hearing timescale

22 replies

Dontbuymesocks · 30/04/2018 18:49

I know this question has probably been asked many times before but I can’t seem to find a relevant thread by searching....
We have applied for the adoption order and have been given the first directions hearing date. Does anyone know (even very approximately) how long after this the final hearing might be? We submitted our application together with the SWs’ suitability report if that makes any difference.

OP posts:
ChoccyJules · 30/04/2018 18:53

Our final hearing will be 4 weeks after the directions hearing. According to the court letter this is because BPs did not attend or contest.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 30/04/2018 19:35

Thanks Choccy, that’s really helpful. I didn’t expect it to be so quick!

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 30/04/2018 22:38

Depends on how busy the court is, whether bp contest and how good your sw is in some cases.
Ours was contested and then sw missed some paperwork which meant another hearing had to be scheduled. This caused an 11 week delay because the judge was on holiday and the court was busy. We then had to wait 8 weeks for the final hearing when order was granted (were also told 4) because the court was so busy.
Don’t mean to put a dampener on it but we were told similar to pp and were really upset by how much longer it took.

Monkeybrains2017 · 30/04/2018 22:39

Ours was done and dusted in the first hearing. Think this isn’t all that common though.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 01/05/2018 09:16

Thanks everyone, I suppose it’s like everything else in adoption - hugely variable!

OP posts:
ANameforToday · 03/05/2018 22:48

Parents contested in our case, second hearing was five weeks later. Order was granted one month after that.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 04/05/2018 09:37

Thanks @anamefortheday
Is there always a second hearing or is this only if BPs contest?

OP posts:
ANameforToday · 04/05/2018 21:38

I think there's usually two if not contested. All the best!

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 05/05/2018 06:29

Thank you!

OP posts:
Cassie9 · 05/05/2018 13:28

I've just got the date for our final hearing. Application went in on the 5th April our final court date is 29th June. We haven't had any other court dates but bm relinquished. Do you get a seperate date later as a celebration hearing?

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 05/05/2018 19:08

Our papers from the court (with the first directions date) state that you request a celebration date after the final hearing. It’s optional, and they schedule you in for 15-30 minutes.

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Allgrownup3 · 07/05/2018 13:27

Hi sorry to jump in.
When did you receive the first letter acknowledging your application? I was told the whole process could take 13 weeks.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 07/05/2018 16:33

We’ve been told the target timescale is 20 weeks. The acknowledgment letter came in a matter of days. If you haven’t received it chase it up a friend of mine waited 6 weeks, heard nothing, and it turned out the application had been lost by the court.

OP posts:
ChoccyJules · 07/05/2018 21:51

Yes, the court rang to acknowledge the application the week we sent it in. They told us they gave the SWs and other respondents three months to fill their forms in and then a date would be set. The week they sent their stuff in, we were sent a date for the first hearing.

ChoccyJules · 09/05/2018 11:26

I hope you don't mind me adding a question, OP, as it's the same topic.

When the final heaing takes place, is that legally it? I thought when the AO was granted that was everything in the process finished but somewhere I have read there's then another 21 days 'cooling off' period. Does anyone know which is correct, thanks.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 09/05/2018 13:58

No problem at all Choccy!
As far as I’m aware, there is no cooling off period (though I may have this wrong). The way our letter is worded, it sounds as though everything is final once the AO is completed.
Someone else might know more than me though.....

OP posts:
ChoccyJules · 09/05/2018 14:58

While we have the MN hive mind available, I would also love to know if there is a clear structure for new NHS number and who does what. Older threads and various NHS policies I have found online are all so variable.

Original poster
Dontbuymesocks · 09/05/2018 16:00

I wondered about this too. I have seen the following documents but what I’m not clear on is how the new number is generated. Do I contact the GP to do this?
pcse.england.nhs.uk/media/1247/adoption-medical-records-practice-guide.pdf
My DS is under various consultants at different hospitals (which are not under the same trust) I wonder if there will be confusion/state of limbo while we are waiting for a new number to be generated, and records transferred. He has lots of appointments coming up and I worry that the wrong name will be used and/or information mislaid etc.

OP posts:
ChoccyJules · 09/05/2018 19:09

Yes, we're the same.

Monkeybrains2017 · 09/05/2018 23:18

Once we had the Adoption order we changed name at doctors and this seemed to automatically trigger the new NHS number as it arrived in the post without us doing anything.

Lilly1207 · 22/05/2018 20:42

The 'cooling off' period is to allow BP's to challenge the order at the court of appeal in London if they wish to do so. If no application is made then the court will write to you regarding the celebration hearing. Also, courts like to keep within a 20 week timetable for adoption cases from the date they accept your application. They will always aim to have it completed before then if possible. Hope this helps Smile

ChoccyJules · 23/05/2018 16:12

Thanks, funny how nobody has ever mentioned the 21 days thing to us. About halfway through that atm.

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