Some great news regarding the adoption division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. For all of my 36 years of practicing adoption law, we have had only one judge assigned to the adoption calendar (not counting dependency/foster care adoptions). But commencing in May the court now has two judges assigned. I have found since the assignment that once ready for hearing, the final hearings are only about 4-6 weeks later, rather than several months as it was before.
Also, the special Covid rules are over. Now, we are back to normal finalizations where the adopting family appears with the attorney before the judge (in a short, happy proceeding). There is still the option, however, to request the hearing to be by video in certain circumstance where a personal appearance may be impossible.