Adoption Law Group

12/09/2020

Camille B. Major Wrote An Uplifting Story About Adoption As A Single Woman

Parents use books to not only educate their children but also start meaningful conversations. When Camille Major was looking for a book to read with her son to help him understand that he was adopted, she couldn’t find one. So she wrote her own and called it Oh Baby, Let’s Go! Our Adoption Adventure.

“Our book is my way of letting him know early that we are an adoptive family and making sure we have open communication, and nothing is taboo,” she said.

Check out the link below to learn more about Camille Major's beautiful story:

Camille B. Major, a human factors engineer at Chevron, shared her and her son’s story about their adoption journey.

11/06/2020

Hallmark Channel's Jen Lilley Celebrates Adoption of Son Jeffrey, 2, After 846 Days in Foster Care

After spending 984 days in foster care, Jen and Jason Lilley have officially adopted their son Jeffrey! Check out the link below to read about their long-awaited, beautiful story...

"Words cannot express how much I love this little one," said the mom of three

11/04/2020

Colorado family opens heart and home adopting child with special needs

For National Adoption Month, The Today Show featured this heartwarming story of a family's journey to adopt their beautiful daughter, Ivy. Click the link below to watch how this family prevailed against difficult adoption circumstances and came out even stronger together.

When Byron and Kari Hall set out to start a family, they knew adoption would be part of their story. After conceiving two children and adopting three more, they worked with the Gladney Center for Adoption to adopt daughter Ivy, who has dwarfism. Watch as Hoda and Jenna surprise them with a special g...

10/26/2020

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#StepparentAdoption

10/19/2020

Adult Adoption: Why Adopt an Adult in California? - IntegriDocs

"You might know that adult adoption is the best course of action, but some might ask, why would you want to adopt an adult?" IntegriDocs uses their latest article to explore the different benefits of adult adoption...

Ever wonder about the reasons to adopt an adult? Click here to discover the many reasons why someone would want an adult adoption in California.

10/12/2020

American Adoptions - California Adoption Requirements | Requirements to Adopt in CA

Our friends at American Adoptions wrote a great article specifying the qualifications to adopt in California. Check out the post below for helpful information as you prepare for your adoption journey.

Before adopting in California, read these adoption requirements and qualifications for adoption.

09/30/2020

A powerful reminder about the importance of parenting from Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett:

When asked why she and her husband decided to adopt their second child from Haiti, Justice Barrett replied, "What greater thing can you do than raise children? That's where you have your greatest impact on the world." We agree!

09/25/2020

Stand up for adoptee citizenship TODAY!

Through no fault of their own, some people who were adopted internationally by U.S. citizen parents still lack U.S. citizenship today. As a result, these individuals have had to endure numerous problems including difficulty attending college, accessing banking services, or starting their careers. Without their rightful citizenship, they are unable to vote or access critical government supports and services such as the unemployment benefits that helped so many families during this time of financial crisis. Stand up with us for adoptee citizenship today by following the simple steps below!

Tell Congress to close the loophole and pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 before it expires! 703.299.6633 | adoptioncouncil.org | [email protected] Through no fault of their own, some people who were adopted internationally by U.S. citizen parents still lack U.S. citizenship today. As....

09/02/2020

How to Adopt My Stepchild in California - Adoption Law Group

Courts are not often places we associate with beautiful moments, but some of the most wonderful events we have ever been part of in a courtroom is when we work with a stepparent to adopt a stepchild. It is certainly not mandatory for a stepparent to adopt their spouse’s biological child, and so this voluntary assumption of the obligations associated with the parent-child relationship by a stepparent is both touching and hugely impactful on the child’s life. If you are considering adopting your spouse’s biological child, the Adoption Law Group in Pasadena can work with you and your family to finalize the adoption as efficiently as possible. Below are a few of the steps you can expect to encounter in the California stepchild adoption process.

We bring families together through stepparent adoption. Discover what's required by the state of California to finalize a stepparent adoption!

08/24/2020

Adoptions facilitated in face of Covid-19 obstacles

“What I felt particularly interesting was hearing children who were, remotely, in their world, not in our world and children felt very comfortable tendering evidence in their own world. It was certainly clear that children felt they were heard . . . maybe there are lessons to be learned" Around 40 children were adopted by long-term foster parents after the Adoption Authority took last-minute action to ensure that Covid-19 restrictions did not block their chance of adoption. Read more about how Adoption Authority's use of videolink allowed children to give evidence remotely from home here:

Adoption Authority use of videolink allowed children give evidence remotely from home

08/19/2020

York County family finalizes adoption via Zoom

The Coronavirus has slowed so many parts of our world down but through the power of technology we are still able to see so many families be able to continue with their adoption plans. The Couch family is no exception! Watch their beautiful story here:

The day before Joey Couch would "officially" become Ava's dad, courts closed to the public due to the coronavirus. The Couch family did not give up hope: htt...

07/27/2020

Why Did She Leave Me There?

"The gate to the orphanage was smaller than I remembered. Nearly 25 years had passed since I lived there. I wondered if coming back was a good idea..." We love this adoptee's raw and beautiful reflections on the meaning of adoption.

A young man returns to the Vietnamese orphanage he had spent 25 years trying to forget.

07/20/2020

How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Foster Child in California? - Adoption Law Group

Adopting a foster child is one of the most wonderful and impactful ways that you can make a difference not only in a child’s life, but your life as well. We understand that the foster parenting journey is often a grueling one, and at Adoption Law Group, we are committed to helping your case finalize as quickly and efficiently as possible. We have outlined how to navigate the costs you will most likely encounter on our blog here:

What costs should you anticipate when you decide to move forward with adopting a foster child? Read here to learn more.

07/13/2020

3 Benefits of Adopting Your Stepchildren - Adoption Law Group

Adopting a stepchild is a voluntary act, and not all stepparents adopt their spouse’s children, but doing so can bring about some extraordinary benefits in the lives of the stepchild, the stepparent, and the spouse of the stepparent. Here are three primary benefits of adopting your stepchild on our blog:

Here are some primary reasons on why it is beneficial to adopt your stepchildren. Click here to learn more about stepparent adoptions.

07/06/2020

Does a Parent Have a Right to Visitation for a Child in a CA Guardianship? - Adoption Law Group

Courts across California overseeing guardianships may have somewhat different procedures for dealing with visitation by county, but, ultimately, the question of what type of visitation arrangement, if any, should be imposed on a guardianship is to be determined based on the best interests of the child. We explain this more in depth in our blog below:

When a California court appoints a guardian to care for a child does the parent have the right to visitation for that child? Read here to learn more.

06/29/2020

Does Race Matter in Adoption? - Adoption Law Group

“Race matters in adoption because race matters in America.” —Twila L. Perry. As a white mom with two black kids, I reluctantly agree with that statement and here's why...

“Race matters in adoption because race matters in America.” —Twila L. Perry As a white mom with two black kids, I reluctantly agree with that statement. I’d prefer it not to be true and frankly, living in a mixed, working class neighborhood in Los Angeles, haven’t really experienced much, ...

06/22/2020

Adult Adoption in California - Adoption Law Group

Adult adoption is a very straight-forward process in California and a good solution to several common family situations. Our office would love to talk with you more about your specific situation to determine if adult adoption is the right solution for you...

Adult Adoption in California Adult adoption is a very straight-forward process in California and a good solution to several common family situations. Sometimes, a stepparent wishes to formalize a stepparent-child relationship, even though the child is no longer a child. Our office regularly handles....

06/10/2020

How Long Does a Stepparent Need to Live With a Child Before Adopting? - Adoption Law Group

A common question that we frequently receive is whether there is a certain time requirement that must be met for a stepparent and child to live together in California before the state courts will approve a stepparent adoption of that child. The short answer is that there is no time requirement BUT it can still be a factor analyzed by the court. We explain this more on our blog here:

A common question that we frequently receive is whether there is a certain time requirement that must be met for a stepparent and child to live together in California before the state courts will approve a stepparent adoption of that child. The short answer is that there is no time requirement for a...

05/27/2020

Adopting My Adult Stepchild in California - Adoption Law Group

When adopting your adult stepchild in California—what happens to the biological parents’ rights? An attorney at Adoption Law Group would be happy to speak to you about the specifics of your situation and guide you through the adult adoption process in your county. The good news is that adult adoption in California is a very simple process & we explain this on our blog here:

Adopting my adult stepchild in California—what happens to the biological parents’ rights?

05/20/2020

What’s the best age to tell my child that he's adopted? - Adoption Law Group

We often have conversations with adoptive parents who are struggling with when and how to tell their child that they're adopted. Our advice is based off both anecdotal evidence & thorough experience with open adoption. We explain this in more detail in our blog below...

I often have conversations with adoptive parents who are struggling with when and how to tell their child he or she is adopted.  Because Adoption Law Group completes lots of stepparent adoptions, many of these conversations are with moms wondering when and how and if they should tell their child th...

05/13/2020

Meet the 2020 Gerber baby, the 1st adopted baby chosen

Check out this tear jerker about the first adopted Gerber Spokesbaby! We are thrilled for the Earl family & their beautiful Magnolia. "Mommy always says a family is built on love,” dad Russell says. “We may all look different, but we’re one family.”

Gerber has narrowed down the finalists of its annual Gerber baby search, and little Magnolia Earl is one of them. Watch as Magnolia, along with adoptive parents Courtney and Russell and her big sisters, learn on the 3rd hour of TODAY that she was chosen! Magnolia is Gerber’s first adopted spokesba...

05/11/2020

“Should I wait until we’re married to adopt my partner’s child?” - Adoption Law Group

We routinely consult with potential clients who are in committed relationships and know they want to adopt their partner’s child but aren’t sure if they have to wait until they get married or not. The basic answer may surprise you...

In California, an unmarried person may adopt their partner’s child through a process known as “second parent adoption.” Basically, the custodial parent “places” their child for adoption with their partner but executes an addendum in which they retain their parental rights.

04/27/2020

Getting Guardianship of a Child - Adoption Law Group

Our heart at Adoption Law Group will always be for a family to create a child-centered adoption plan. Guardianship is intended to be a temporary solution and to ultimately help lead to the best outcome for the child. We talk about this more in depth on our blog linked below!

Guardianship is intended to be a temporary solution for families who find themselves unable to care for a minor child, either due to medical, financial, or some other hardship...

04/24/2020

Adoption Without Parental Consent - Adoption Law Group

Is it possible to complete an adoption without parental consent? You can find the answer on our latest blog below...

Is it possible to complete an adoption without parental consent? The answer depends upon what type of adoption we’re talking about and of course the unique circumstances of each case...

04/20/2020

How Much is a Stepparent Adoption? - Adoption Law Group

In all cases, we seek to be totally upfront about anticipated costs. Our sincere belief is that finances should not be a barrier to successful adoption. We talk about this in more detail on our blog...

... It’s important to remember that the fee listed is most likely just for an uncontested adoption, where the non-custodial parent can both be located and is willing to sign a consent to the adoption. In those cases, the only other costs in addition to the attorneys’ fees is the mandatory steppa...

04/13/2020

Do I need a lawyer to adopt my stepchild in California? - Adoption Law Group

"Whether or not you need an attorney to adopt your stepchild in California depends on several factors. Since we’re adoption attorneys, it’s tempting to say, “of course!” but we also want everyone, regardless of income, to have access to adoption, so here’s the honest answer..."

Whether or not you need an attorney to adopt your stepchild in California depends onseveral factors. Since we’re adoption attorneys, it’s tempting to say, “of course!” but we alsowant everyone, regardless of income, to have access to adoption, so here’s the honest answer:

04/10/2020

Adopting During Covid-19 - Adoption Law Group

Take a look at what our Legal Assistant, Matt, has to say about adoption in the midst of Covid-19 on our latest blog...

We are all trying to navigate these very strange times and it’s still difficult to guess just how far-reaching...

04/08/2020

Adoption Law Group's cover photo

04/08/2020

Adoption Law Group

03/23/2020

Birth Order and the Blended Family - Adoption Law Group

"Having to adapt isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's a really important skill to develop. Stepping outside of the roles we've grown comfortable with causes growth." We all have a little more unexpected time inside the house these days and with that, a little 'butting heads' is impossible to avoid. Take a look at what our co-founder Jill has to say about how the birth order of her blended family has affected their time together...

Seeking out advice from a therapist and speaking with other adoptive parents in a blended family are good ways to help smooth the bumps on the birth order road.

03/13/2020

Adoption Law Group's cover photo

09/26/2017

Good Morning America

A beautiful foster adoption story. These parents have such beautiful and selfless hearts. This brought tears to our eyes! Watch below…

WATCH: "I think without love, none of this is possible." Meet the Ohio couple with five children, who then adopted SIX. Grab a tissue! The Sanders Family, 13 strong, is the story you need to stop and watch ❤️ https://yhoo.it/2tynwbW

07/05/2017

goo.gl

California has also allowed adults who are unmarried but in a relationship with a biological parent to adopt that parent’s child through what is called a “second parent adoption.” https://goo.gl/qn5SkG

07/04/2017

How Long Does a Stepparent Need to Live With a Child Before Adopting? - Adoption Law Group

A common question that we frequently receive is whether there is a certain time requirement that must be met for a stepparent and child to live together in California before the state courts will approve a stepparent adoption of that child.https://goo.gl/6EedQe

A common question that we frequently receive is whether there is a certain time requirement that must be met for a stepparent and child to live together in California before the state courts will approve a stepparent adoption of that child. The short answer is that there is no time requirement for a...