Adoptions

The Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy* assists in three important phases of the adoption process:

establishing that a child is available for adoption by accepting surrenders of parental rights or irrevocable consents to adoptions;

coordinating required criminal records searches of the adopting parents; and

conducting court-ordered investigations of adopting parents.

The office is the department of Cook County government officially designated by the Circuit Court of Cook County as the social service agency to perform these functions pursuant to the Illinois Adoption Act. (750 ILCS 50/1 et al. (“the Act”)).

*formerly known as the Cook County Department of Supportive Services

Location and Contact Information
Explanation of Termination of Parental Rights
Explanation of Acknowledgment of Surrenders of Parental Rights or Consent to Adoptions
How to Arrange for Acknowledgment of Surrenders of Parental Rights or Consents to Adoptions
Co-ordination of Criminal Background Checks
How to Arrange for a Report of Investigation
Fees

Location and Contact Information

Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy
69 West Washington Street, Suite 818
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Telephone: 312.603.0550
Facsimile: 312.603.9909
Director: Angela M. Bailey
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Explanation of Termination of Parental Rights

Before the adoption of a minor child can be completed, the person(s) seeking the judgment of adoption must establish that the child is available for adoption. That means that the parental rights of the biological parents have been terminated. The termination of someone’s parental rights can be established in a number of ways, as follows:

If the child’s parents have died: A certified copy of a death certificate or other official document, e.g. a court order declaring a person to be legally dead, establishing the death must be filed with the court.

If parental rights were terminated by an order issued in juvenile or other court proceedings: The person(s) seeking an adoption must establish the existence of that order and the fact that it is a final non-appealable judgment.

Parental rights may be terminated in an adoption case upon proof that the parent(s) is unfit as defined by 750 ILCS 50/1 D.

Parents may voluntarily relinquish their parental rights to their child by executing a “surrender” or “consent” in substantial compliance with the procedures set out in the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/ 8, 9, or 10).

Explanation of Acknowledgment of Surrenders of Parental Rights or Consent to Adoptions

A “surrender” places the minor child in custody and control of either the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or a licensed child welfare agency. That agency is, by the terms of the surrender, granted full authority to act in the child’s best interest and place the child with a person or persons for the purpose of adopting the child.

A “consent” to the adoption of a child terminates the parental rights of the biological parent(s) executing the consent. The child is not, by the terms of the “consent,” placed in the care or custody of anyone. In fact, in private adoptions, a consent to the adoption of a child by a specific person or persons is not legally recognized. The court determines the care and custody of such minor child once a Petition for Adoption is filed.

. How to Arrange for Acknowledgment of Surrenders of Parental Rights or Consent to Adoptions

The Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy is the public child welfare agency under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Cook County designated to acknowledge Surrenders of Parental Rights or Final Irrevocable Consents to Adoption as provided in 750 ILCS 50/10. This service supplements the availability of judges in the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County to acknowledge such surrenders or consents. See Standing Order No. 1 to schedule a court hearing before a judge for the acknowledgment of a consent to adoption.

In order to arrange an appointment for the acknowledgment of a surrender or consent by the Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy, persons should call during regular business hours. It is the policy of the Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy to interview the adoptive parents prior to acknowledging a consent or surrender. If all persons to be interviewed in connection with the acknowledgment, i.e. the adoptive and biological parent(s), are fluent in the English language, the appointment must be made at least three business days in advance of the desired appointment date. If any of the parties require the services of a foreign language interpreter, the appointment must be scheduled at least seven business days prior to the desired date. The Office will also provide the services of a sign language interpreter. However, availability is scheduled on a case by case basis.

Note: In cases where the biological parent(s) of the child desire to surrender their rights to a child welfare agency, the parents must select the agency with whom the child will be placed. The Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy will not participate in that decision in any manner.

Co-ordination of Criminal Background Checks

The County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County requires criminal history records searches of adopting parents in all related, as defined by the Act, adoptions. For a $50 fee, the Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy will co-ordinate the records search. The Office can only coordinate the searches in those instances where the parties involved choose to have fingerprints taken and submitted to law enforcement by the Cook County Sheriff.

The $50.00 fee is payable by check or money order to the Department of Supportive Services. Adopting parents may also obtain a criminal history records search through a private vendor. A list of those vendors and their contact information is found the Appendix to Standing Order No. 1 which governs adoption proceedings.

Fingerprinting is done by appointment only in the Sheriff’s Office, Room 702 Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois. The hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and every other Friday. The telephone number is 312.603.6190.

The fingerprints are submitted by the Sheriff’s Office to the Illinois State Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for criminal records searches.

Fees for the fingerprinting and the records search are due at the time of fingerprinting and are as follows:

Fingerprints: $10.00 per individual, $15.00 for a couple
Make check or money order payable to Sheriff of Cook County.

Criminal Records Search: $39.25 per individual
Make check or money order payable to Illinois State Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office will forward the check to the Illinois State Police Department when the fingerprints are submitted.

How to Arrange for a Report of Investigation

In those cases where the court appoints the Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy to conduct investigations required by the Act, the following procedures should be followed to arrange for the investigation.

a. Schedule an appointment for fingerprinting by the Cook County Sheriff by telephoning 312.603.6190. The fees charged by the Sheriff and Illinois State Police set out in Section 5 above are due at the time of the fingerprinting. At the conclusion of the fingerprinting session, make certain to obtain a “confirmation letter” from the Sheriff. The Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy will not begin the interview process without the “confirmation letter.”

Note: The fingerprint requirement for the investigation is waived for any person who, in the two years prior to the filing of the Petition for Adoption, was fingerprinted in connection with any work-related or avocational activity. The person seeking the waiver must submit a letter to the judge on the stationary of the organization attesting to the fingerprinting and affirmatively stating that the individual does not have a criminal record. This must be accompanied by a confirming written statement to that effect signed by the person seeking the waiver. This waiver is granted only in connection with a required investigation by this Agency under the Act. A waiver of the criminal record check noted in Section 3 above can only be obtained by a Court Order entered upon motion showing good cause for such waiver.

b. Schedule an appointment for the initial interview with the Office of Adoption and Child Advocacy (312.603.0569) for a time after the fingerprinting appointment. (Both appointments may be scheduled for the same day.) The fees for the investigation are charged on a sliding scale based on the adopting family’s income. A non-refundable fee of $150.00 is due at the time of the first interview unless the person(s) seeking to adopt can establish their sole source of support is S.S.I. or public aid. If that is the case, the total charge for the investigation is $50.00. This fee is due at the time of the initial interview.

c. Bring the following items to the initial interview:

The non-refundable fee of $150.00, or proof of status as a recipient of S.S.I. or public assistance and the fee of $50.00;

Copy of Marriage Certificate;

Any Decree of Divorce and proof that any child support obligations are current;

Copy of first page of most current federal income tax return (Form 1040, Form 1040 A, Form 1040 EZ, etc.). For interviews scheduled before April 15 of any year, the current tax return is for the calendar year two years prior to the current year. For example, if the interview is before April 15, 2008, the 2006 tax return must be provided. If after that date, the 2007 tax return must be furnished.

Three letters of personal reference from persons who are not related to the adopting family;

Letter(s) from all current employers of adopting parents stating position, length of employment, and salary. If anyone is self employed, two business references must be provided.

If the child sought to be adopted has been placed in the home, the child’s birth certificate and a recent “Pediatrician’s Report” in a form substantially similar to Exhibit A.

Fees

Coordination of criminal history records search: $50.00
Make check or money order payable to the Department of Support Services.

Fingerprints:   $10.00 per individual, $15.00 for a couple
Make check or money order payable to Sheriff of Cook County.

Criminal Records Search:   $39.25 per individual
Make check or money order payable to Illinois State Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office will forward the check to the Illinois State Police Department when the fingerprints are submitted

Report of Investigation: Sliding scale based on the adopting family’s income. A non-refundable fee of $150.00 is due at the time of the first interview unless the person(s) seeking to adopt can establish their sole source of support is S.S.I. or public aid. If that is the case, the total charge for the investigation is $50.00. Make check or money order payable to the Department of Support Services.

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