As you research surrogacy programs and assisted reproduction attorneys, always check for membership in professional organizations which are exclusive, carry high ethical standards, and are self-regulating. These include the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys and the Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers. Compare this with membership in the California Bar Association, which is mandatory, and the American Bar Association which is not by invitation.

We were sad to see today that any attorney would engage in baby-selling. Theresa Erickson, a California assisted reproduction attorney who was never a member of AAARTA or ACFFL, has plead guilty to multiple counts of baby-selling involving surrogacy and the Ukraine.

We are members of both AAARTA and ACFFL, have been in business nearly 30 years, and during this time have maintained the highest ethical standards and work product–second to none. Our reputation and credentials are impeccable. Call our office today for a complementary consultation and to learn more about how we can help build your family.

You need an experienced adoption attorney who can ensure you’re complying with the laws of the birth mother’s state as well as your own. For instance, some states don’t allow birth mother expenses to be paid directly the birth mother; others put strict limits on the amount that can be paid and for what purpose. The danger is that the money you spend may be deemed as inducement for the birth mother to place which can undo your adoption by invalidating her consent.

You don’t want to violate the Indian Child Welfare Act which requires inquiry into whether the birth mother or presumed father is an eligible member of a Native American tribe. Notice to each federally registered tribe may be required. If not done correctly and there is membership, the tribe may invalidate the adoption up until the day it is finalized.

If you’re adopting a child from another state, you must comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. This complicated, paperwork-heavy process can be daunting if you haven’t done it before. Errors on or submission of incomplete paperwork could significantly delay finalizing your adoption.

An experienced adoption attorney knows how to identify the legal status of the child’s father, how to obtain his consent or waiver, and most important, knows how to get a court order dispensing with his consent. Failure to obtain legally binding court orders with respect to all potential birth fathers’ parental rights could undo your adoption should the birth father contest the adoption.

If you’re thinking about placing a child for adoption or want more information about how we can help you build your family through adoption, contact our office today for a complementary 15 minute consultation.

We have been working with surrogates and intended parents for over 25 years and have found that many surrogates who advertise their services on the internet have already been rejected by other programs. Once a potential surrogate understands the reasons why she doesn’t meet a program’s criteria, she might alter the information provided to potential parents so that she will meet with their approval. It’s difficult for intended parents who are new to the process to understand how to conduct their due diligence. Intended parents aren’t neutral parties and might not be willing to reject a potential surrogate for reasons which are obvious to an experienced screener. Our staff has combined experience of nearly 50 years, screening surrogates and quickly identifying potential legal, medical and insurance issues, the purpose of which is to protect not just the intended parents but the surrogate and her family as well.

Intended parents should question why a surrogate wants to do go through the surrogacy process on her own when the compensation and benefits they require aren’t markedly different from a program like ours. Perhaps the entrepreneurial spirit camouflages those who don’t take instruction or believe they can find a better way to do things.

Be sure to ask your tax professional about adoption tax credits. If you adopted a special needs child or have expenses associated with an adoption that did not go through, you may qualify for adoption tax credits. Check out our other blog postings about this topic. You might also find this article interesting–found on CNNMoney, it’s about waiting for adoption tax credit refunds from the IRS. Don’t expect that check to arrive via overnight mail!

Our offices have helped thousands of families find children to adopt. We do all the legal work necessary and can even help if you’ve already identified an adoption situation. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation and find out how we can help you realize your dream of having a family.

Adopting a stepchild in California can be a relatively easy process. If there’s one really challenging aspect to stepparent adoption, it’s most likely going to be obtaining consent from the absent parent. You might be nervous about contacting your child’s absent parent. Maybe you haven’t seen that parent in years and are afraid of the response you might get. Maybe you’re certain the absent parent will refuse to consent. All of the fears are common and understandable, and the main reason why you should consider working with an attorney to process your stepparent adoption. When you work with us, you won’t have to deal with the absent parent. We will do this for you. Our offices are experts in working with absent parents, many times obtaining consent from the most ardent refusals. In the alternative, we always explore the real possibility of getting a court order to terminate the absent parent’s rights so your stepparent adoption can go forward. We would be happy to talk with you about your situation and how we might help. Call our offices for a 15-minute complementary consultation. And visit our Stepparent Adoption page for more information and FAQs.

PFC is seeking women between the ages of 21 and 42, with a BMI between 18 and 32, and who have had no more than 2 previous failed IVF cycles to participate in a study to determine the value of combining traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, with IVF. You may contact them at (415) 834-3095 to see if you qualify. Or visit PFC by clicking here.

Our offices are always seeking exceptional surrogates who want to help another couple have a child. Contact us today for more information.

Visit FPNC’s website to learn more about their innovative conference, virtual conference-call support group. Next meeting is this Wednesday July 20

According to the Wall Street Journal, the new adoption treaty between Russia and the United States would require extensive reporting by agencies. Under this agreement, Russian authorities would receive ongoing reports for children adopted by US parents. Agencies would be responsible for tracking Russian adoptees until age 18 and reporting on the home environment, how the child is being treated, and whether the adoption has been interrupted. At least two recent cases, one of interrupted adoption and another involving abuse and neglect, have likely precipitated the agreement which was reportedly well-received on both sides. (read the WSJ article),

We’ve just learned about this organization which provides grants to needy couples facing infertility. They are a Florida-based non-profit and looks like they’ve given out five grants per year over the past 2 years. Application deadline is July 31, 2011. Visit their website for more information at . And if you need help with a gestational carrier or legal work related to assisted reproduction, please call us for a complimentary consultation.

When processing an adoption in California, you must make inquiry as to whether birth parents have any Indian heritage. Most importantly, all California courts are requiring proof that this inquiry was made for all adoptions. Your adoption request may be rejected (think San Mateo County) for failure to file these forms with your request. This is true for newborn adoptions, stepparent adoptions, even relative adoptions. You can find the appropriate forms (right now there are two of them) at the Judicial Council website. If you have questions about this inquiry or need help noticing all necessary Indian tribes, contact our office for a 15-minute complimentary consultation.