Does the biological parent get notified before or after adoption is finalized in Alabama?

Before — always before. The biological parent must be notified BEFORE the adoption is finalized. This is a constitutional due process requirement.

The notification timeline in Alabama:

Step 1: You file the adoption petition with the Probate Court

Step 2: The biological parent is served (notified) through one of these methods:

• Personal service by sheriff or process server (~$50)
• Voluntary acceptance of papers
• Service by publication if whereabouts are unknown ($50–$150)

Step 3: Response period

• The biological parent has a set number of days to respond (typically 20–30 days)
• This is their opportunity to consent, object, or do nothing

Step 4: What happens based on their response:

• No response (most common) → adoption proceeds
• Signs consent → adoption proceeds faster
• Objects/contests → hearing scheduled to evaluate abandonment

Step 5: Finalization hearing — adoption is approved

Important: The biological parent is notified of the petition (intent to adopt), not the result. They do not receive a separate notification after the adoption is finalized. Their rights ended when the court signed the adoption order.

In our experience: Over 80% of served biological parents do not respond at all. The notification is a legal formality that rarely changes the outcome.

Cost: $349 | Start at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register