Adoption Law Office of Meeting with Mr. Bull: Birney O'Brian Bull 420 West Broughton Street ________________________________ P. O. Box 9811 Final Hearing: Savannah, Georgia 31412-0011 ________________________________ Judge / File #: 912-Adopt-Need (912-236-7863) Fax: 912-Adopt-11 ________________________________ Directions to 420 West Broughton Street, and nearby Chatham County Courthouse: Our office has a blue awning, near MLK Blvd., across the intersection from the Firestone garage, and across Broughton from the Child Support Enforcement office in the Chatham County Courthouse garage. Beyond the Courthouse garage is the Courthouse itself, where final hearings on adoptions are for Chatham County residents. (Both buildings look like big blocks of granite.) I-16 merges into Montgomery Street in downtown Savannah. The 3rd traffic light is Broughton Street, our office is to the left, almost at the end of the block, on the right. But you'll have a better chance of finding a place on Broughton Street (for the 2 hours of FREE parking available there) in the block on the other side of Montgomery. Allow about 15 minutes for parking --- it can be an ordeal. As noted, it is free for 2 hours on Broughton Street, but parking is tight everywhere in downtown Savannah. There is usually space available in the County Courthouse garage across the street (ONLY ON floors 4, 5, and 6!; Enter on Montgomery just before Broughton Street). The garage is $1.00 per hour ($10.00 for all day). Street parking at a meter or "Pay to Park" machine will cost $1.00 for 80 minutes ($0.25 for each 20 minutes, with 2 hour total limit). They can't time your stay on Broughton Street very well. But with meters (or "Pay to Park" machines), I've seen a Meter Maid sit and wait for the last minute expire to put the ticket under the windshield wiper). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGAL STEPS FORM: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This text file has all the information you need for me to help you with Georgia's adoption-related proceedings. Fill it in and return a copy to us as an e-mail attachment. This form gives you the best combination of speed, accuracy, security, and convenience. (For example, it is easier than the website form when you need to copy-and-paste the same information into answers for more than one question). It also has instructions at the end for the final hearing. You can open it in WordPerfect, MS Word, or even a text editor like Notepad. (Believe it or not, we use WordPerfect! --- still the best word processor for law offices --- so if you somehow have that option, that would be easiest for us.) Save it in WordPerfect or MS Word and attach a copy to an e-mail back to us. You can encrypt it if you want --- just make sure you call us with the password or send it in a separate e-mail. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please answer each question below as best you can. Please call us if you aren't sure what to put for any question. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your Contact Information: Q:Client --- Your Name, Phone, E-Mail Address, Mailing Address, City, State ZIP, and WHO REFERRED YOU TO US A: Q:Meeting --- Date and Time of Any Appointment We Have (or the Appointment You Want) A: Q:Agency --- Names and All Contact Info for All Agencies Involved A: Q:TypeAdopt --- Type of Adoption [Delete all that do not apply:] Independent [No Agency] Private Agency [Domestic] DFCS [Department of Family and Child Services] International Finalization in Georgia [International Agency] International Finalization in Georgia [No Agency] Grandchild Great-Grandchild Niece Nephew Great-Niece Great-Nephew Sister Brother Stepfather Stepmother Adult [Adoptee Age 18 or Older] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Child (or Adult) to Be Adopted: Q:K1 --- Child's Current Full Name A: Q:K1B --- Child's Full Name at Birth A: Q:K1A --- Desired Full Name for Child After Adoption A: Q:K1Gn --- Child's Gender A: Q:K1DOB --- Child's Date of Birth A: Q:K1OBC# --- Child's Birth Certificate Number (upper right corner in Georgia) A: Q:K1BCty --- Child's City of Birth A: Q:K1BCnty --- Child's County of Birth A: Q:K1BSt --- Child's State of Birth A: Q:K1Plc --- Reasons, Circumstances, and DATE of Child's Placement for Adoption (Include Roles of All Agencies Involved) A: Q:K1Prp --- Significant Property Child Owns (real estate, stocks, trust account, etc.) A: Q:K1Adr --- Child's Current Address A: Q:K1Cty --- Child's Current City of Residence A: Q:K1St --- Child's Current State of Residence A: Q:K1Zip --- Child's Current ZIP A: Q:K1Cnty --- Child's Current County of Residence A: Q:Guardian --- Name of Any LEGAL Guardians (not just custodians; COURT-APPOINTED Legal Guardians) A: Q:K1NBC --- Amend Child's Birth Certificate to Show New Parents and Name? If so, indicate number of Original Amended Birth Certificates Desired (Amendment is recommended, and 2 or 3 are recommended --- photocopies are often not accepted, and the cost of additional originals at the same time is minimal) A: [ YES / NO ] #: ____________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current (or deceased) Mother of Child: Q:BMom --- Birthmother's Full Name Now A: Q:BMomMdNm --- Birthmother's Full Maiden Name [Please Use This Format: FirstName MiddleName MaidenName (now MarriedName)] A: Q:MomSurr --- Will Current Mother Sign Her Consent to the Adoption? A: Q:BMomApv --- Did Current Mother Give Birth to the Child, or Adopt the Child Herself? Is She Still Alive? A: Q:BMomAdr --- Current Mother's Address(es) [also include address shown on child's birth certificate] A: Q:BMomCty --- Current Mother's City of Residence A: Q:BMomSt --- Current Mother's State of Residence A: Q:BMomZip --- Current Mother's ZIP A: Q:BMomCnty --- Current Mother's County of Residence A: Q:BMomPh --- Current Mother's Phone Number(s) A: Q:BMomDOB --- Current Mother's Date of Birth A: Q:BMomSS --- Current Mother's Social Security Number A: Q:BMomBCty --- Current Mother's City of Birth A: Q:BMomBCnty --- Current Mother's County of Birth A: Q:BMomBSt --- Current Mother's State of Birth A: Q:BMomInd --- If Current Mother Is a Native American (Indian) Tribe Member, which one? A: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current (or deceased) Father of Child: Q:BDad --- Current (or deceased) Father of Child (and all others who may claim to be the child's father) A: Q:DadSurr --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, Will He Sign His Consent to the Adoption? Is He the Child's Birthfather or Adoptive Father? Is He Still Alive? A: Q:BDadLgl --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, Is He the "Legal" Father (Married to Mother Any Time Since Conception; Under Child Support Order; etc.)? A: Q:BDadNtc --- [Leave Blank] Q:ParSpec --- Any Other Special Circumstances Regarding the Current Parents? A: Q:BDadAdr --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, Residence Address(es) A: Q:BDadCty --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, City of Residence A: Q:BDadSt --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, State of Residence A: Q:BDadZip --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, ZIP of Residence A: Q:BDadCnty --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, County of Residence A: Q:BDadPh --- As to Each Actual or Claimed Father, All Phone Number(s) A: Q:BDadDOB --- Date of Birth for Each Actual or Claimed Father A: Q:BDadSS --- Social Security # of Each Actual or Claimed Father A: Q:BDadBCty --- Birth City of Each Actual or Claimed Father A: Q:BDadBCnty --- Birth County of Each Actual or Claimed Father A: Q:BDadBSt --- Birth State of Each Actual or Claimed Father A: Q:BDadInd --- If Any Actual or Claimed Father Is a Native American (Indian) Tribe Member, which one? A: Q:BDadMil --- If Any Actual or Claimed Father Is on Active Military Duty, List the Branch and Current Mailing Address A: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adoptive Mother of Child: Q:AMom --- Adoptive Mother's Full Name (for stepfather adoption, enter current mother's data) A: Q:AMomMdNm --- Adoptive Mother's Full Maiden Name [Please Use This Format: FirstName MiddleName MaidenName (now MarriedName)] A: Q:AMomPh --- Adoptive Mother's Work Phone(s), E-Mail Address A: Q:AHomPh --- Adoptive Family's Home Phone(s), E-Mail Address A: Q:AMomDOB --- Adoptive Mother's Date of Birth A: Q:AMomSS --- Adoptive Mother's Social Security # A: Q:AMomBSt --- Adoptive Mother's Birth State A: Q:AMomUS --- Is Adoptive Mother a U.S. citizen? A: Q:AMomAdrK1db --- Address Adoptive Mother Had on Birth Date of Adopted Child (When the child's birth certificate is amended, this address will replace the birthmother's address, so this means the adoptive mother's residence on the child's date of birth) A: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adoptive Father of Child: Q:ADad --- Adoptive Father's Full Name (for stepmother adoption, enter current father's data) A: Q:ADadPh --- Adoptive Father's Work Phone(s), E-Mail Address A: Q:ADadDOB --- Adoptive Father's Date of Birth A: Q:ADadSS --- Adoptive Father's Social Security # A: Q:ADadBSt --- Adoptive Father's Birth State A: Q:ADadUS --- Is Adoptive Father a U.S. citizen? A: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adoptive Family Information: Q:AMarital --- Marital Status of Adoptive Parent(s) / Date of Marriage A: Q:AAdr --- Residence Address of Adoptive Parent(s) A: Q:ACty --- Residence City of Adoptive Parent(s) A: Q:ASt --- Residence State of Adoptive Parent(s) A: Q:AZip --- Residence ZIP of Adoptive Parent(s) A: Q:ACnty --- Residence County of Adoptive Parent(s) A: Q:PovAfd --- Adoptive Parent(s) Unable to Pay $207.50 Filing Fee for Petition? A: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adoption Law Office of Meeting with Mr. Bull: Birney O'Brian Bull 420 West Broughton Street P. O. Box 9811 ________________________________ Savannah, Georgia 31412 0011 Final Hearing: 912-Adopt-Need (912-236-7863) Fax: 912-Adopt-11 ________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIST OF COPIES TO MAKE 1. These papers do not fax clearly; either let us copy them when we meet, or mail copies to us at P.O. Box 9811, Savannah, Georgia 31412-0011. 2. We will NOT need ANYONE'S Social Security card, and we will NOT need any PARENT'S birth certificate. 3. You will need to bring the originals of these papers to the Final Hearing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic: -- each adoptee: birth certificate, any guardianship documentation -- birth parents: current marriage license / most recent child support order / legitimation decree(s) / DNA test results / death certificate(s) / divorce decree(s): most recent, and any divorce decree mentioning adoptee(s) -- adoptive parents: current marriage license / most recent divorce decree / death certificate of last spouse of unmarried adoptive parent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International: -- each adoptee: the final foreign adoption or guardianship decree & verified English translation / translator's qualification statement / translator's complete name, and current address / Visa granting the child entry to the United States (may be just a stamp in child's passport) / child's original and any amended birth certificate & verified translation -- adoptive parents: the home study completed for US Citizenship and Immigration Services / current marriage license / divorce decree / death certificate of last spouse of unmarried adoptive parent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINAL HEARING INSTRUCTIONS These instructions will help you prepare for the final hearing. When we call you with the hearing date and time, fill them in: Final Hearing: Date: ________________ Time: ________________ After your Petition is filed, we will call you with the date and time of the final hearing. If you live in Chatham County, its courthouse is the big granite block of a building at 133 Montgomery Street, downtown, on the left of Montgomery Street just before you get to Broughton Street, one block from our office. (If you can park on Broughton Street, it is free for two hours --- more than enough. See directions above.) If you live in another county, make sure you know where its Superior Court convenes. In any event, meet me 15 minutes ahead of time in the courthouse lobby. (We may have other adoptions being finalized at that time.) All Petitioners and Adoptees should be present for the final hearing. (Let us know if this is a problem.) Also, bring the originals of all documents you have copied to us. Because everything will be done beforehand, the hearing with the judge should only take about 5 minutes. It will be in the judge's office or some private office, not a courtroom. Other family members and close family friends can also attend. Be sure to bring a camera -- it is an important day for all of you! We usually bring a digital camera to final hearings, and we can e-mail my pictures to you if you remind us via e-mail to do it. After the hearing, we should be able to get the Certificates of Adoption and a certified copy of the Final Decree in the Clerk's office. The Clerk will send the paperwork for the amended birth certificates to the Vital Records office in Atlanta. That process could take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months or even more. Usually, the amended birth certificates will be sent to me to forward to you. If you will be moving, please warn me so things will not get lost in the mail! (In fact, if you move at any time during the adoption process, please keep me advised of how to contact you! UNTIL THEN, YOUR CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL DECREE SHOULD SATISFY ALL LEGAL NEEDS (Social Security, doctor, school, and so on). The amendment process merely carries out the court's order. (For example, Social Security should honor it to revise their records. Be sure to tell them whether you want to keep the same numbers or get new ones.) If you have trouble with anyone on this, have them call me.