I know that it depends on the case and that every trial is different for very different reasons, but if you have been to a termination trial, how long was it for...I mean how many hours per day did it last for?
Technically Pumpkin's last court hearing was a termination trial. However, the State ended up only taking Permanent Managing Conservatorship instead of actually terminating (yet). The whole process took less than 30 minutes.
Have been to four and one of those involved 3 kids with 2 different fathers. How long did it take? An hr maybe.
I know of many more termination cases and none have been any where near a full day. Minutes-max 2 hrs.
They are emotional events, but in some cases more so for the foster mom I think cause you know how a parent should feel at loosing a child. You know what a loss it is for the child, but on the other hand mostly it is a gift of life to the child when a case has not resolved in this amount of time.
Had a judge tell us once off the record at an adoption finalization that she had worked with that family for 3 generations and it was days like the adoption finalization that gave her hope to go on--a family member from this family that had been a drain on society would now be a giver.
Have courage. Life will be better when tomorrow is over with.
less than 30 mins for mine.. It wasnt for foster children but for my husbands children, their bio moms rights were terminated by the judge after asking just a few questions and reading over the paperwork. then i adopted them at the same time. I hope tomorrow goes in your favor!
Might have been possible to call the court and ask how long was scheduled for this case and whether or not there were other cases were on the docket for that court. I know we can get that information.
Each time has been different. About an hour once, 3 hours another time, and about 30 minutes the last time. I usually have waited longer outside the courtroom than actually inside the courtroom.
Dec. 19th was the first termination hearing that I have been to. We were to be there at 1:00, and court was scheduled at 1:30. (The kids couldn't come to this one though because the workers didn't want them to hear all the bad things about their mom.) The mother showed up (which was a big surprise since we hadn't heard from her since May) and we ended up sitting outside the court room for 3 1/2 hours until they finally called us in there. We were in the court room less than 5 minutes, and all rights were terminated, the mothers (which she signed over, eve though her lawer was tryong to get her more time) and the 2 biological fathers rights. The kids have been in care for 2 years and 4 months right now and we haven't heard a thing about an adoption worker coming by. I am also praying that the mother doesn't contact anyone for the "good bye" visit. These kids have been doing so much better and have actually made progress on bonding with us. If they were to see their mom again, I am scared of how much that would set them back. I will be praying for you tomorrow. That everything will go quickly and in Lizzy's favor!
Interesting to read everyone's comments and see how different things are from one state to another.I get very frustrated with our system, but the more I hear other's comments, the more I think our system might not be the worst of them. I can't imagine a child sitting through court hearings about their family. No child is allowed in the court room here--not even teens. I have seen a teen removed very kindly from the court room before court started.
Here you would not hear from or about an adoption worker before parental rights are terminated.In fact here, it has been our experience that there was no adoption contact until more than 2 weeks after termination (the timeline wherein an appeal can be filed in our state.) First contact from adoption worker would be with papers to sign saying whether or not we are interested as the foster family in adopting.
Also, do some states actually have a "good-bye visit"? That is an horrifying thought to me. The truth of the matter is, after termination, the parents have no rights to anything. What a traumatic emotional experience for a child to have to go through.
The kids in the courtroom and a good-bye visit to me are wrong on so many levels. Way to add to a child's psychological problems.
also if a parent hadn't made contact for more than 91 days, termination could and probably would be granted on abandonment.
Mama foster, Things will go fine in court tomorrow. May you feel the presence of God and may the Holy Spirit fill you with peace. He is in control.
13 comments:
15 minutes for mine - but they signed a relinquishment.
Technically Pumpkin's last court hearing was a termination trial. However, the State ended up only taking Permanent Managing Conservatorship instead of actually terminating (yet). The whole process took less than 30 minutes.
Have been to four and one of those involved 3 kids with 2 different fathers. How long did it take? An hr maybe.
I know of many more termination cases and none have been any where near a full day. Minutes-max 2 hrs.
They are emotional events, but in some cases more so for the foster mom I think cause you know how a parent should feel at loosing a child. You know what a loss it is for the child, but on the other hand mostly it is a gift of life to the child when a case has not resolved in this amount of time.
Had a judge tell us once off the record at an adoption finalization that she had worked with that family for 3 generations and it was days like the adoption finalization that gave her hope to go on--a family member from this family that had been a drain on society would now be a giver.
Have courage. Life will be better when tomorrow is over with.
less than 30 mins for mine.. It wasnt for foster children but for my husbands children, their bio moms rights were terminated by the judge after asking just a few questions and reading over the paperwork. then i adopted them at the same time. I hope tomorrow goes in your favor!
Might have been possible to call the court and ask how long was scheduled for this case and whether or not there were other cases were on the docket for that court. I know we can get that information.
30ish mins. both bio parents didn't show up.
One was 30 min-legal dad not involved and no contact. One was 6 or 7 hours over 3 separate days(and not consecutive)-dad got her back.
If no family show up, about 30 minutes.
Each time has been different. About an hour once, 3 hours another time, and about 30 minutes the last time. I usually have waited longer outside the courtroom than actually inside the courtroom.
Dec. 19th was the first termination hearing that I have been to. We were to be there at 1:00, and court was scheduled at 1:30. (The kids couldn't come to this one though because the workers didn't want them to hear all the bad things about their mom.) The mother showed up (which was a big surprise since we hadn't heard from her since May) and we ended up sitting outside the court room for 3 1/2 hours until they finally called us in there. We were in the court room less than 5 minutes, and all rights were terminated, the mothers (which she signed over, eve though her lawer was tryong to get her more time) and the 2 biological fathers rights. The kids have been in care for 2 years and 4 months right now and we haven't heard a thing about an adoption worker coming by. I am also praying that the mother doesn't contact anyone for the "good bye" visit. These kids have been doing so much better and have actually made progress on bonding with us. If they were to see their mom again, I am scared of how much that would set them back. I will be praying for you tomorrow. That everything will go quickly and in Lizzy's favor!
Interesting to read everyone's comments and see how different things are from one state to another.I get very frustrated with our system, but the more I hear other's comments, the more I think our system might not be the worst of them. I can't imagine a child sitting through court hearings about their family. No child is allowed in the court room here--not even teens. I have seen a teen removed very kindly from the court room before court started.
Here you would not hear from or about an adoption worker before parental rights are terminated.In fact here, it has been our experience that there was no adoption contact until more than 2 weeks after termination (the timeline wherein an appeal can be filed in our state.) First contact from adoption worker would be with papers to sign saying whether or not we are interested as the foster family in adopting.
Also, do some states actually have a "good-bye visit"? That is an horrifying thought to me. The truth of the matter is, after termination, the parents have no rights to anything. What a traumatic emotional experience for a child to have to go through.
The kids in the courtroom and a good-bye visit to me are wrong on so many levels. Way to add to a child's psychological problems.
also if a parent hadn't made contact for more than 91 days, termination could and probably would be granted on abandonment.
Mama foster, Things will go fine in court tomorrow. May you feel the presence of God and may the Holy Spirit fill you with peace. He is in control.
Less than 10 mins. for Tank's severance. It was an easy decision given Bio parents hadn't done any of the case plan and didn't show up to the hearing.
The only termination hearing that I have attended lasted 45 minutes. According to my caseworker that was unusually short.
Post a Comment