How do I serve the biological parent with adoption papers?

Service of process is the legal requirement to formally notify the biological parent. Here are the common methods:

1. Personal Service (Most Common)

• A sheriff's deputy or process server delivers the papers
• Cost: ~$50
• Most reliable method

2. Voluntary Acceptance

• The biological parent agrees to accept the papers voluntarily
• They sign an acknowledgment of service
• Simplest when the bio parent is cooperative

3. Service by Publication

• Used when the biological parent's location is unknown
• A legal notice is published in a newspaper
• Cost: $50–$150
• Adds about 4–6 weeks to the timeline
• Very common — and courts accept it routinely

4. Certified Mail

• Available in some states/counties
• Less common for adoption cases

What happens after service:

• The bio parent has a set period to respond (varies by state)
• If they don't respond, the adoption proceeds
• In our experience, the vast majority of served parents do NOT respond

We include detailed instructions for the appropriate service method in your document package, along with all necessary forms.