what happens during the 3 months

Good question! Here's what actually happens during those 3 months — and honestly, most of it doesn't require anything from you. The court is just processing paperwork and doing their procedures.

Month 1: Service and Background Check

• You file your documents with the court
• The other biological parent gets served (either in person, by mail, or by publication if their location is unknown — we help you with all this)
• You submit fingerprints for the background check (results come back in 3-4 weeks)
• The court clerk processes your petition and assigns a case number

Month 2: Court Processing

• The court reviews your petition and supporting documents
• If there's a home study required (often waived in New York for stepparents), that gets scheduled
• The court sets a hearing date
• You wait to receive notice of your hearing date in the mail

Month 3: Hearing and Finalization

• You attend the final hearing — this is more of a celebration than an interrogation
• The judge asks a few simple questions confirming you understand you'll be the child's legal parent
• The judge signs the final adoption order
• Done! You're officially a family.

The hearing itself takes about 15-30 minutes. Many New York courts now do these virtually (phone or video call). The judge is happy to finalize these — they want children to have two-parent homes.

After the hearing:

You request a new birth certificate from the New York Department of Health, and it will list you as the parent as if you were there from birth.

Most of the "waiting" is just the court's scheduling — you're not actively doing things during most of this time. Does that make sense? Any specific part you want to know more about?