The local courts, over the last two years of Covid, changed many of their procedures for finalizing adoptions. For example, many counties changed from in-person hearings to video hearings you could do from your home.
With Covid now lessening, most courts have changed their procedures for the adoption final hearing. Here are the current policies in each court:
Orange:
All final hearings are presently by video.
San Diego:
San Diego central juvenile court now gives a choice. One day a month the final adoption hearings are done in person. On a second day a month all appearances are done by video.
San Diego North County (Vista) is presently doing all final hearings only by video.
Riverside:
All final hearings are in person.
San Bernardino:
All final hearings are in person.
Los Angeles:
All final hearings are done in person, but the court is flexible in allowing video hearings when it is impossible for the family to appear.
Ventura:
Hearings can be done in person or by video, as chosen by the attorney of the adopting family.