The Berrien County Trial Court will hold its annual Adoption Day celebration on Monday, November 25.
Trial Court Administrator Carrie Smietanka-Haney tells us the event will finalize three adoptions, bringing attention to the importance of helping families come together. She says most adoptions are formalized in closed proceedings, but not so on Adoption Day.
There are a variety of adoptions each year in Berrien County.
“We have had over the years step-parent adoptions, we have had guardianships through adoption, certainly adoptions from foster care, but even adult adoptions that have happened on Adoption Day,” Smietanka-Haney said. “So we really, truly get a mixture of great forever families.”
Smietanka-Haney says the court will be open to the public for the day with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch on hand as a special guest. She calls Adoption Day perhaps the happiest day at the court each year.
“Honestly, some of the more touching ones are those for youth who’ve been in foster care or been without a forever home for a longer period of time, maybe are a little bit older and finally get that finalization and that closure to their family life. It’s really beautiful.”
Smietanka-Haney says this year’s Adoption Day will have the theme of “Giving Thanks for Families.” Hearings will be held at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. in Courtroom 403 on the fourth floor of the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph.
Everyone’s welcome to come and share in the joy.
