Below is a checklist required for Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. I use this checklist with all my adoption files. The checklist is simple to use and covers most requirements of the court.  Another helpful checklist I found can be viewed here; this checklist has outdated code section in it. One suggestion before attempting an adoption in a county you are not familiar with is to contact the administrative judge’s office for local rules and contact an attorney that practices in the county you are seeking to file an adoption action in.

ADOPTION CHECKLIST

                                                                                     

Plaintiffs vs. Defendants

 

20____-DR-____-_____

                                                                 ADOPTION CHECKLIST

This Adoption is:

            Step-parent adoption or adoption related by blood or marriage

            Non-relative adoption

 

The following documents have been filed with the Clerk of Court:

            Summons

            Complaint

            Order appointing GAL

            Proper service of Order appointing GAL on the GAL

            Answer of GAL

Proof of service of Summons and Complaint on:

           Biological parents (if no consent/relinquishment or TPR)

             Child to be adopted (if 14 years or older)

           GAL or child (if 13 years or younger)

            Proof of Service by Publication (if served by Publication)

            Notice to named biological father

____    Responsible Father Registry Search Results

            Mother’s Consent Relinquishment (if given)

            Father’s Consent Relinquishment (if given)

            Consent of Child if age 14 or older

            Pre-placement Investigation signed within one year of date of placement (not required if step-parent adoption or related by blood or marriage)

            Post-Placement Investigation (not required if step-parent adoption or related by blood or marriage)

            Medical & Social History (not required if step-parent adoption or related by blood or marriage)

            Itemized Accounting (not required if step-parent adoption or related by blood or marriage)

            Adoption Placement Certificate (if DSS placement)

            Answer of DSS (if DSS placement)

           Service of Summons and Complaint on DSS (if DSS placement)

            Notice of Hearing to DSS (if DSS placement)

            Interstate Compact Approval (if child is placed out of state or placed in S.C. from another state)

            Order of Exceptional Circumstances (if child is placed in another State from S.C.)

 

Date:________________   

 

________________________________________

Attorney for Plaintiffs