The decision to start or expand your family is an exciting one, but it’s also a little scary. While it’s exciting to think about how your life is going to change with a new child in your life, it’s also overwhelming to think of all the new obstacles you may face in taking care of someone. Whether it is your…
Child adoptions are probably the best part of practicing family law. Parents act selflessly to help a child have a happier life. The aim of adoption is to bind parents and children together. Parents adopt because they can’t have children of their own, they want to help children who are disadvantaged, a stepparent wants to become an adoptive parent, and…
This January, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill allowing adoption agencies to deny services to same-sex couples. The law prevents the state from barring agencies from receiving public funds for refusing to place a child with a family based on religious reasons. Advocacy groups and critics of the legislation believe the law unfairly targets the LGBTQ community. Senate Bill…
Not everyone is able to fulfill their dreams of having a family biologically, but fortunately, there are many options today to begin or add to a family. Once you’ve decided that adoption is the right choice for you, then it comes down to which adoption route to take. Open, closed, private agency, foster care and state agencies all have their…
The home study is one of the most important parts of the adoption process in Tennessee. It is a visit conducted by a social worker, employed by a private or state agency, who inspects your home and interviews you and your family members. The home study could take multiple visits to complete, so be prepared for the social worker to…
Congratulations – you’re about to expand your family! The decision to adopt a child is an important one, so you want to make sure you have the best attorney for your needs, to help you through the process. We have compiled these five tips for choosing the right adoption lawyer, so you know where to start and what to look…
Adoption is one of the best decisions a family can make. A child without a loving home, meets a loving home without that child: it’s perfect in every way. Sure, there may be some challenges along the way, but in the end, everyone should end up happy and safe. But what if your family is just, well, you? That’s okay,…
If prospective adoptive parents of a child live in a different state than the one where the child is living, the law that governs this transaction is called the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Act (ICPC). This is a uniform, statutory law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. Before a child who…