Adoption Law Services
My most heartwarming experiences as a lawyer have been to facilitate the adoption of large sibling groups. So that brothers and sisters can continue to grow up together. I have had the privilege of completing the adoptions of two sibling groups of six; one sibling group of five and several sibling groups of four. Currently, I'm working on an adoption of a sibling group of seven.
Over the years, I have completed adoptions of kids by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and even older siblings. It pleases me to facilitate the adoptions of kids by a relative so that they can maintain important birth family connections.
Whether you wish to adopt your relative child, step-child or your foster child; whether you're looking to complete a private adoption or you wish to work with an agency, I have the experience and the knowledge to help you make adoption a reality for your family.
In the area of adoptions from foster care I have extensive experience handling every aspect of the process including adoption subsidy negotiation and appeals.
I also have experience handling contested adoptions as well as interstate adoptions; so, if you're planning for adoption or just want to know more about it, please contact me to schedule a consultation.
Learn about contested adoptions in Indiana.
Maximize Your Subsidies
Foster parents receive a “per diem” payment to care for those in their care. That ends when they adopt. In most cases, the “per diem” is replaced by an adoption subsidy which must be worked out through a back-and-forth dialogue between the two attorneys, yours and the one speaking for the DCS. Adoption subsidy negotiations in Indiana begin at zero and are negotiated upwards. This is a time-consuming but very important process. The maximum amount allowed by Federal law is the amount you are receiving in foster care per diem at the time the subsidy agreement is being negotiated. Having a good attorney with your child’s best interest at heart can make all the difference. I have a proven track record in negotiating for my adoptive parents until we arrive at an amount with which they are happy and satisfied.Personal Legal Highlights
Many of my foster-to-adopt clients have been unaware of the federal Adoption Tax Credit Program. One client adopted six special needs children to join two that were already in their family. I informed them of the program and helped them apply. Later, they thanked me for helping them receive a badly needed check for $96,000 from the federal government to help with family expenses.
I represented foster parents of a little boy in Evansville, Indiana in a disputed adoption. The grandmother had adopted three of his older siblings and was opposing the adoption of the fourth and youngest sibling. My clients in Evansville had fostered the youngest child for about two years and wanted to adopt him. Through mediation, we arranged a “cooperative adoption” whereby my clients and the child’s grandmother both adopted the little boy and the situation remained as it was. The older ones stayed with grandma. The youngest one remained with his newly adoptive parents, and all the youngsters continued to have regular contact.
I represented foster parents of a little boy in Evansville, Indiana in a disputed adoption. The grandmother had adopted three of his older siblings and was opposing the adoption of the fourth and youngest sibling. My clients in Evansville had fostered the youngest child for about two years and wanted to adopt him. Through mediation, we arranged a “cooperative adoption” whereby my clients and the child’s grandmother both adopted the little boy and the situation remained as it was. The older ones stayed with grandma. The youngest one remained with his newly adoptive parents, and all the youngsters continued to have regular contact.
Recently I handled a case in which the couple fostering a child were the child’s sixth foster care placement. Unlike his previous five placements the couple was patiently working with him and meeting his needs to the point that he was bonding with his new parents and brother. When a blood relative of the child filed to adopt him, the couple decided to file for adoption as well. In the end we were able to convince the court that the child’s best interests demanded that he remain where he was. Today he is thriving in his forever home.
Looking for a child to adopt in Indiana?
- Adoption: Opening Hearts. Changing Lives is published every two months.
- Pictures and details of Indiana foster children available for adoption are provided.
- The list is updated every two months.