6 months after adopting a child the parents split up do social services need to be informed?

Question

My friends adopted a child 6 months ago and now after 15 years of marrage they have split up.

Various members of their families are now saying that they are going to contact social services and let them know the situation.

She is now worried about what will happen.

Does anyone out their know if their will be any serious comebacks, Or have you heard of any one else going through the same thing.

Answer 1

Each state is different but I think that even after the child is adopted t he case workers keep in touch with the kids and the families.  So, it it's only been 6 months - it seem like maybe the case worker would be involved anyway?

Is the child safe with one of the parents?  if child is distressed - then yes  - at least contact her social worker.  She made need some help understanding this situation.

Answer 2

They have split up, but have they started divorce proceedings?  If divorce proceedings have started, surely the lawyer would be able to throw some light on the matter.  If they have only separated, then I would suggest try to find out from the proper authority.  You don't have to name anyone out yet.  You can make enquiry on the basis of research project on situations before and after adoption.

Answer 3

Adoptions are not final until after a year. So social services could take the child. If they still both want the child they should stay together another 6 months until the adoption is final, then get divorced and go with joint custody.

Answer 4

How sad.  so much for the 2 parent stable 'forever' family that the adoption industry tells vulnerable mothers their child will get

Huge sigh

Answer 5

Friend of main has a n adopted child. They did separate with partner couple of times before finally divorced. At the beginning they didn't involved anyone but when divorce went on they send a letter to the social service office. The difference is that the child was with them for a longer time (few years for sure). The Court treat that case the same way as it was couple's child any way.

Answer 6

You won't have to speak to social services because you adopted the child. Social Services can't say anything because the child is now yours. All you'regoing to have to do is do the same thing all married couples do when they are about to be divorced- go to court. So the answer is no.

Answer 7

Yes they need to advise Social Services.  Any changes in their lives need to be reported.

They are there to support the adopted child and any changes might cause disruption. It doesn't mean that the child will be removed, it just makes them aware of the possible extra help that might be needed.

E.g, will the adopted Dad still want contact with the child?

There are lots of things that needs to be talked through with he social worker.  It is better coming from them rather than someone else - that won't look good.

Answer 8

If the adoption is finalized than the Social Services cannot do anything about it. However, if the adoption has not been finalized they might have some say in it, and she should report the changing situation to them.

Answer 9

Divorce can and often does affect the status of a foster care placement, but it has no legal effect on a finalised adoption. Once adopted, a child is the parents' legal child, just as if he or she had been born to them.  If the adoption has not yet been finalised, the agency should be notified and it will be up to the court to decide if one or both parents should be allowed to finalise the placement as the marriage dissolves; in such a case, the recommendation of the adoption agency would be an important factor in the decision. If the adoption has been finalised, then of course all aspects of custody, etc., will be the same as that relating to any child from a failed marriage.

Answer 10

If the adoption process has been completed the child is legally theirs and social services have nothing to do with it at all.They will just have to go through the usual process of deciding who has custody and guardianship of their baby

Answer 11

thats a really tricky one. i wouldnt take any advice on yahoo,the first thing you should do is contact the citizens advice and im sure that they would be able to steer you in the right direction. i think social services are the last people you should inform at the moment.

Answer 12

As a mother that went through the same situation I can tell you what I experienced.  

I would not have had any problems but we had adopted my husbands sisters'  child and when I left my husband  his family  called Social Services and reported me (they were always mad because we adopted him (out of love) and they wanted to adopt him for the money they would have gotten).

The only thing that Social Services did was come to my house and made sure that he was being taken care of and then they closed the report.

I believe the only way she would have a problem is if someone called and said she was neglecting the child in some way.

Answer 13

the child who has been adopted will still have a social worker who stays in contact with the adoptive family.  in my opinion it would better if  your friend was the one to inform social services of the change in her circumstances. the child is still the responsibility of social services until one year has passed then parental responsibility belongs to the adoptive family.

Answer 14

Yes, I have heard of it happening....  a few times.

Contacting Child Services should be the same situation as any other child you see that might be stuck in the center of divorce....

If the adoption isn't final they will know anyway... and the state will decide what is going on....

If it is final as with any divorce the family courts will be involved and decide custody and such....

The Only time I have seen the children removed back to foster care under a situation such as this was a family who tried for years to have childre--had siblings placed and one of the parents was caught abusing one of the children by the other parent.... But that was a lot more then just divorce.

The Divorce Rate for Adoptive parents is about the same as for other parents and Adoptive Parents are not better then other people....

Besides---that odds are good that the state already knows and a bunch of people have jumped in and decided to think that someone isn't doing the right things so now need to tattle tell.....

Truthfully, it is very unlikely if this is a Foster Care Adoption that it is actually even finalized at 6 months....and it is Completely possible that the state may still decide the child should be adopted by the parent who want him/her AFTER all single parent adoption happen All the Time with foster children....

The person who needs to be open with the System is the Parent wanting to keep the child.... there are always Serious comebacks with Divorce....especially for any children involved.... But, waiting to be questioned by social services or reported by others is foolish--especially when everyone has their number....the best thing ALL parents can do is call themselves and discuss the matter themselves open and honestly.... and ask for family preservation services....

Answer 15

I think after only 6 months they do have a say in it as the child is still settling in to the family. but i dont think they would take the child away they just want to ensure the child is happy and looked afterxx

Answer 16

dont think social services should be involved unless the split is actually effecting the child so much, that no parent can care for it anymore. There is no need. My parents split up, but that didnt effect my upbringing.

Its a unfortunate thing to happen, but it happens every day with bio kids too. There is no need to involve anyone and her

family shouldnt be so quick to take action like that.

Her family should just be there for her plain and simple.

Answer 17

The answer is actually very simple: If the adoption is final - no, she does not need to tell them.  If the adoption is not final - yes, she needs to tell them as soon as possible.

Answer 18

6 month after adoption meaning finalization? Then no. The child is theirs permanently as if it were born to them. There is no reason or need to report to anyone.

6 months after placement but not final? Than yes, that will be noted in the agencies post placement report that then heads to the court for review and finalization after 6 months of placement. As long as they are still wanting to adopt and both have a support plan then everything will be OK.

Answer 19

I am adopted and my parents got divorced.  The courts deal with this the same as any custody issue between two parents.  The only issue that there may be in the length of time before the adoption becomes legal..and that differs from state to state.  I would just suggest they call the adoption agency and ask for their advise or maybe an adoption lawyer from their state.

Answer 20

gee, do bio parents have to contact social services when they divorce??  

no, your friends have nothing to worry about.  Being divorced does not make them horrible parents and is NOT grounds for having their child taken away.

Answer 21

If the child has been adopted then I don't think social services will have any say in it.  It will just be a normal divorce/custody type thing.

Answer 22

It is sad to hear this, that they went a such great lengths to adopt and now they are divorcing- so I do think that the agency has a right to know, but I really don't think that anything can be done- what if the couple had this child biologically and 6 months later filed for divorce- would that child be taken out of the home?

Answer 23

Tell her to tell the certain family members to mind their own business!!!

The child is legally hers as if she gave birth so social services do not need to be contacted and no she will not have any serious comebacks

Answer 24

Once the adoption is done then Social Services have no say in the matter.  It's no different then if they gave birth to a child then split up.

Sad none the less.

Answer 25

i was adopted and after a year my adoptive parents split up, and nothin hapeneed with social services,let them call them, or just to be safe get the mother to call them and explain b4 the fathers side cause trouble,

Answer 26

Yes she would have to contact the adoption agency because the the grounds on which they were approved for adoption have now altered,  I would think that if she was still in a position to care for the child then the fact that they have been with their for 6 months would work in her favour but not telling them could be considered an offence.

This is what I would have thought anyways.

Answer 27

yes you do need to tell social services. you got the child from them in the first place, just coz you adopted the child doesnt mean that it is all yours and social services goes away. they have to sort out who has the child and all that and how the child feels and all sorts of stuff like that.(remember that the child has been put up for adoption and what was the reason for this, the child may have had its parents leave it before and could be very emotional about everything again now) think about it