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We are in Northern California, and Completed adoption on one child age 2, mother has another half sib and we get placement of that child at 1 day from the hospital. Bio mom has lost a bunch and this is #5. Services terminated in September and then an aunt shows up and starts Relative assessment, goes to a .26 recently and the court does the TPR and rules out aunt who just recently completed and passed Relative Assessment. Mother appeals the TPR and also the placement. I understand that the TPR appeal is not unusual and bio mom would never get that reversed (I left out other things, just trust me on that part, the TPR is solid). However, the appeal related to placement is interesting. She is appealing the placement of the child and wants the child with the aunt even though the child is with an already adopted 1/2 sibling now. This child is now over 6 months and has only been with us. I can't see any reason why the appeal would be successful. First, I never knew the bio mom could appeal the placement. Second, I'm thinking the appellate court would not overrule the lower court because the law was followed. Just because a relative passes the relative assessment does not mean that they get placement. So we probably have very little to worry about other than how long the delay will be. Am I missing something?
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Fostermom22
In most states (not sure if it's federal) the baby is placed with a sibling....even after a TPR for the purpose of placement the sibling bond exists (again not sure if that is every state thought)
MountainMommy
Bio can appeal anything she wants but I doubt it will stand. Did you talk to the child's attorney about the chances? We just had a relative appeal our placement and it was denied within two weeks. Hopefully you find out equally as fast.
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MountainMommy
It's my understanding that for an appeal the bio would have to pay for that herself. I could be wrong, and it could vary state to state.
An appeal brief was filed by the apellance (the bio mom) but they called it a SADE C. Brief. What is a SADE C. Breif? It then says that the mother has to file a supplemental brief by 03/21/2013 and a SADE C. order was filed and the bio mom was granted 30 days to file supplemental brief. Any idea what is going on?
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OK here is what I found in my own search. After an appeal is filed, and an attorney is appointed to the appellant (bio mom) by the court, the atty reviews the record and files a brief. IF the atty cannot find anything in the record to raise as an issue in a brief they file a SADE C. Brief with the court stating that they cannot find any issue to address, also a letter goes out to the appellant (bio mom) stating what her options are (to represent herself, to abandon the appeal etc). The letter contains all the options and the bio mom can then ignore it or choose one. If she ignores it then the appeal is abandoned (30 days?), she can write her own appeal or select another option. The court has allowed 30 days for a supplemental brief to be filed, giving the bio mom more time to either write her own appeal, ,withdraw ignore, get another atty, etc. So at this point it is looking VERY GOOD, anyone can chime in and correct please if I am off or left something out. I did my research on the CALI Court website, and searching for sample SADE C. letters to clients.
I googled it. It does look as though she doesn't have a leg to stand on. Attorneys will dig to find something, anything, to appeal-no matter how small and petty. Her lawyer looked and found nothing. So, I guess her appeal will be dismissed and the case will go to adoption. The SADE C was a last ditch effort by the lawyer. It's up to Mom now and I doubt she will write a brief for the court. And even if she did, the court doesn't have to look at it.
Hi! Ok so when I saw the question about what the SADE C meant what flew thru my mind was: Maybe she wants to be a 'Smooth Operator'. But then I realized that it would need to be a Sad C for that to be right :-) I will hold good thoughts for your family and hope that permanency for your baby will be swift. Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!
Well the appeal part is over with, no on to the signing and the supposedly easy part, except the County I work with has a horrible reputation, and my adoptions worker has no people skills whatsoever. A simple paperwork process is another reason to mix up regulations, make false statements, stall paperwork, and continue incompetency. Unfortunately, I will not be adopting more children from that agency not due to lack of desire but due mostly to the conduct of the agency. Absolutely horrible both times I dealt with them.
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Widdletink
Hi! Ok so when I saw the question about what the SADE C meant what flew thru my mind was: Maybe she wants to be a 'Smooth Operator'. But then I realized that it would need to be a Sad C for that to be right :-)