Stahlke Adoption

More About Court

We all took the "L" to the Loop, disembarking in the station under the Daley Center. I knew the building well, having served on the jury of a three-week malpractice suit in 1991 (during the time my dissertation was winding up).

Taking the elevator to the seventeenth floor, we met our lawyer for the first time. She sent us back down to a lower level, so the four younger children could be served their court papers. The sheriff enjoyed his task immensely, giving each child a toy sheriff's star as well as the required documents.

We returned to the floor of the courtroom, waiting in an anteroom designed for children. They had activities there for all ages, from toys to computers, and we were thankful for the diversions from their excited emotions. (Only moments before leaving home, they had decided to dress up for the occasion!) Jonathan and I signed some final papers and wrote out the check for the lawyer.

"Stahlkes!"

Filing into the courtroom, we all stood before the judge, who was seated in a high tribunal. He smiled at us and asked lots of questions, making sure to address each person in the family. The older boys had to consent to their own adoption, both verbally and in writing. After about ten or fifteen minutes, which seemed much longer, he congratulated and dismissed us.

Now that the readoption has been initiated, it will work its way through paperwork channels for about six weeks. No further court visits are necessary, even by our lawyer. Everything will take place by mail.

We celebrated at the Rainforest Cafe, which the kids enjoyed immensely. Adam decided he would brag to his classmates about what he had done that day instead of school!

posted by Stahlkes @ 11:51 AM