Bibliographic record and links to related information available from the Library of Congress catalog.
Note: Contents data are machine generated based on pre-publication provided by the publisher. Contents may have variations from the printed book or be incomplete or contain other coding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedications iii Table of Contents v Table of Cases xv Acknowledgments xxiii Preface xxv Chapter 1. History of Adoption in the United States 1 Notes and Questions 11 Chapter 2 Prerequisites to Adoption 13 A. Strict Statutory Construction 13 B. Notice and Consent Requirements 13 1. Constitutional Dimensions of the Nonmarital Father's Status 14 Lehr v. Robertson 16 Notes and Questions 23 Petition of Doe 26 Kessel v. Leavitt 32 Notes and Questions 43 Problems 45 2. Revocation of Consent 46 Adoption of J.M.M. v. New Beginnings of Tupelo, Inc. 46 In re Christopher F 52 Notes and Questions 54 Problem 56 C. Termination of Parental Rights 57 1. Due Process Requirements 57 a. Parents' Right to Counsel 57 Lassiter v. Department of Social Services of Durham County, N. C. 57 b. Burden of Proof 64 Santosky v. Kramer 64 c. Right to Appeal Termination of Parental Rights 71 M.L.B. v. S.L.J. 71 Notes and Questions 76 Problems 77 2. Grounds for Involuntary Termination 78 a. Adoption Assistance and Safe Families Act 78 42 U.S.C.A. § 671 State Plan for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance 78 In re Dependency of J.W. 80 Shepherd v. Clemens 84 Notes and Questions 91 Problem: 93 Chapter 3. Identifying Adoptees and Adoptive Parents 95 A. Persons Who May be Adopted 95 1. Minors 96 2. Adults 97 In re Adoption/Guardianship Nos. 2152A, 2153A,2154A 98 Notes and Questions 104 B. Persons Who May Adopt 104 1. Married Couples 105 2. Single Adults 105 3. Stepparents 106 4. Foster Parents 106 5. Relatives 107 6. Unmarried Cohabitants and Second Parents or Co-Parents 107 7. Disabled or Sick Applicants 108 8. State Residents 109 9. Biological Parents 109 Matter of Adoption of Adult by G.V.C. 109 Notes and Questions 111 10. The State's Interests in Regulating Who May Adopt 111 In re Adoption of Carl 111 Notes and Questions 114 C. Suitability Factors for Screening Prospective Adoptive Parents 115 1. Prospective Parent's Age 115 2. Prospective Parent's Mental and Physical Health 117 3. Child's Preference 117 4. Birth Parent's Preference 117 5. Prospective Parent's Religious Beliefs 118 6. Prospective Parent's Racial and Cultural Sensitivity 118 7. Prospective Parent's Gender 119 8. Prospective Parent's Sexual Orientation 119 9. Prospective Parent's Ability to Satisfy the Child's Needs 119 10. Prospective Parents' Willingness to Adopt Siblings 119 11. Prospective Parent's Financial Status 120 12. Prospective Parent's Marital Status 120 13. Prospective Parent's Criminal History or History of Domestic Violence 120 D. Making the Suitability Determination 121 Delaware Code Ann. tit. 13, § 722 121 Adoption of L.E.K.M. 121 Notes and Questions 127 Problem 3-1 127 Problem 3-2 128 Chapter 4. The Adoption Process and Attorney Ethics 129 A. Selecting an Adoption Method-Private, Public, Agency, or Independent 129 B. The Home Assessment 131 Notes and Questions 132 C. The Search for Children 133 Notes and Questions 134 D. The Search for Parents 134 1. Postadoption Contact 134 Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3107.011 135 Minn. Stat. Ann. § 259.47 135 Notes and Questions 136 2. Choosing a Parent in Agency Adoptions 136 Illinois Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act 137 Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-102 138 Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1200 138 In re the Petition to Adopt S.T. and N.T. 138 Notes and Questions 141 E. General Requirements for Filing a Petition 141 1. Jurisdiction 141 2. Venue 142 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-727 142 Haw. Rev. Stat. § 578-1 142 La. Ch. Code Ann. art. 1180 142 3. The Petition to Adopt 143 Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-5-208 143 4. Notice 144 5. Statutes of Limitations 145 Notes and Questions 145 F. Temporary Placement and Waiting Periods 146 1. Temporary Placement 146 2. Waiting Periods and Interlocutory Orders 147 Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1209 147 Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1212 148 Notes and Questions 148 G. Approval of Agency's and Attorney's Fees 149 1. General Requirement of Fee Approval 149 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2533 150 Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 8-126 150 2. Court Treatment of Fee Approval 150 Notes and Questions 151 H. Allowable Adoption Expenses 151 1. Expenses Generally Allowed 151 Me. Rev. St. Ann. tit. 18A, § 9-306 152 2. Illegal Payment of Expenses after Consent to Adopt Executed 152 3. Refunds for Illegally Paid Expenses to Adoptive Parents 153 In re the Adoption of Baby Boy 154 Notes and Questions 156 I. Prohibitions Against Baby Selling and Baby Brokering 156 1. Statutes 156 Minn. Stat. Ann. § 259.55 156 Ariz. Rev. St. Ann. § 13-3625 157 2. Determining Whether There Is Baby Selling 157 a. When the Child Is Not Ultimately Sold 158 b. The Difference between Baby Brokering and Monetary Benefits to the Child 158 c. How Status as an Agent Rather than an Intermediary Affects Baby Brokering 159 3. Sanctions against Intermediaries Seeking Illegal Fees 159 a. Constitutionality of Charging an Attorney with Illegally Receiving Compensation for a Child 159 b. Criminal Convictions for Baby Brokering or Selling 160 Notes and Questions 160 4. Baby Selling Litigation 161 In re Adoption of a Child by I.T. 161 In re Adoption of a Child by I.T. 167 Notes and Questions 171 J. Final Adoption Decree 172 1. Best Interests Finding Required 172 Notes and Questions 173 2. Granting the Petition to Adopt 173 a. Violations of the Statute 173 b. Consent Complications 174 Notes and Questions 175 K. Ethical Considerations 175 1. Potential Ethical Issues 175 Doe v. Hughes, Thorsness, Gantz, Powell & Brundin 178 Notes and Questions 181 Boyd v. Garvert 181 Notes and Questions 185 2. Interpreting Ethical Rules 185 Notes and Questions 188 3. Potential Malpractice Issues 190 Notes and Questions 192 Problem 4 192 Notes and Questions 199 Chapter 5. Particular Types of Adoption 201 A. Stepparent Adoption 201 Fakhoury v. Fakhoury 202 Notes 205 B. Children with Special Needs 207 1. Eligibility for Adoption Support 208 a. AFDC, SSI, Children of Minors in Care 208 b. Adoption Assistance Program and the Definition of "Children with Special Needs:" 42 USC § 673 209 Notes: 209 2. The Adoption Support Process 213 3. Adoption Support Benefits: Nonrecurring and Recurring Assistance 214 a. Adoption Assistance Program and the Benefits Provided: 42 USC § 673(a) 215 Notes 215 b. Categorical Eligibility for Medicaid 217 42 U.S.C. § 1396a: 217 42 U.S.C. § 1369d: 217 Notes: 218 4. Tax Benefits in Support of Adoption 219 a. Adoption Expenses: 26 U.S.C. § 23 (2004) 219 b. State Tax Credits: The Kansas Example 220 KS St §79-32,202 (2004) 220 5. Military Benefits in Support of Adoption 220 a. Adoption expenses: reimbursement: 10 U.S.C.A. §1052 (2004) 220 C. Kinship Adoptions 221 1. Relative Preference for Adoption 222 Y.H. v. F.L.H. 222 Notes and Questions 227 2. Process When Relatives Adopt 229 a. Placement Investigations and Reports: Iowa Code Ann. § 600.8 229 Notes and Questions 230 D. Adoption by Same-Sex Couples 231 1. The Constitutional Dimension 231 Lawrence v. Texas 231 Lofton v. Secretary of Dept. of Children and Family Services 242 Notes: 251 Problems 252 2. Second Parent Adoptions 253 Matter of Adoption of Two Children by H.N.R. 253 Notes 258 Problem 259 E. Equitable Adoption 259 Wheeling Dollar Savings & Trust Co. v. Singer 259 In re Estate of Ford 261 Problems 266 E. Informal Adoption 267 The Extended Family System in the Black Community: A Child-Centered Model for Adoption Policy 267 Chapter 6. Adoption of Indian Children 271 A. The Historical and Social Context 272 Notes and Questions 279 B. Exclusive Tribal Jurisdiction 280 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield 280 Notes and Questions 288 C. Types of Proceedings Covered by the ICWA 290 In re J.D.M., 290 1. Triggering the Duty to Investigate Indian Heritage 294 In re J.T. 294 In re Antoinette S., 297 In Interest of M.N.W., 302 Notes and Questions 304 E. Placement Preferences 305 1. Good Cause to Deviate from the ICWA Placement Preferences 305 In re C.H. 305 2. The Existing Indian Family Doctrine 313 In re Santos Y. 313 Notes and Questions 325 F. Heightened Protections of Parental Rights in State Proceedings 327 1. Active Efforts, Appointment of Counsel, Standards and Burden of Proof at Placement 327 State ex rel. Juvenile Dept. of Multnomah County v. Charles 327 Notes and Questions. 331 2. Termination of Parental Rights: Burden of Proof and Expert Testimony 333 Matter of Welfare of B.W. 333 Notes and Questions 340 3. Voluntary Relinquishment and Withdrawal of Consent 340 Matter of Kiogima 340 Notes and Questions 343 Chapter 7. Transracial Adoption 345 A. Brief History of Transracial Adoptions in the United States 345 B. Current United States Law on Race and Adoption 348 1. Federal Legislation 348 a. The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 349 b. The Interethnic Adoption Provisions 350 c. Elimination of Recruitment Biases 350 d. Ethical Issues in Transracial Adoption 351 Notes and Questions 351 2. State Legislation Regarding Race in Adoption 352 Notes and Questions 354 C. Court Decisions on Race and Prejudice in Adoption Proceedings 354 1. Current Case Law on Race in Adoption Proceedings 355 DeWees v. Stevenson 356 In re F.W. 359 Notes and Questions 363 2. Protecting Biracial and Multiracial Adoptees' Interests 363 In re M.F. 363 Notes and Questions 372 D. Effects of Transracial Adoption on Adoption Participants 373 1. Social Science Research 373 Outcomes in Transracial Adoption 374 2. The Adoptees' Perspective 382 E. Additional Social Concerns Linking Race and Adoption 383 Problem 7 384 Chapter 8. Intercountry Adoption 387 A. History and Statistics 387 B. The Intercountry Adoption Process 389 1. Compliance with Multi-jurisdictional Laws 390 a. International Conventions and Foreign Adoption Laws 390 Kaho v. Ilchert 396 Notes and Questions 403 2. United States Laws 404 a. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services' Current Laws and Procedure 404 Guadarrama-Garcia v. Acosta 409 Notes and Questions 413 b. State Intercountry Adoption Laws and Procedures 414 Walsh v. Walsh 415 Notes and Questions 421 C. General Itemized Expenses of Intercountry Adoption 421 D. Social Concerns in Intercountry Adoption 422 Dresser v. Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc. 423 Notes and Questions 440 E. Culture, Psychology and Politics in Intercountry Adoption 440 Making Legal Regimes for Intercountry Adoption Reflect Human Rights Principles: Transforming the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption 441 Notes and Questions 445 Problem 8 445 Chapter 9. Interstate Adoption 447 A. Applicability of the ICPC 447 B. Governing Provisions of the ICPC 448 1. Purposes and Goals of the ICPC 448 2. Definitions for ICPC Usage 448 3. The Sending State's Responsibilities for Initiating Placements 449 4. The Receiving State's Responsibilities 450 5. Sending Agency's Retention of Jurisdiction Over the Child 450 6. Sanctions for Noncompliance with ICPC Provisions 451 7. The Compact Administrator 453 8. Exemptions from the ICPC 453 9. Withdrawal from the Compact 454 10. Construction and Severability 454 C. Processing an Interstate Placement Request 454 D. Assessing Penalties for Noncompliance 457 Adoption of A.M.M. 457 In re Adoption No. 10087 463 Notes and Questions 481 E. Denials of Requests for Interstate Placement 482 Department of Children and Families v. Fellows 482 Notes and Questions 485 Problem 9-1 486 Problem 9-2 487 Chapter 10. Consequences of Adoption 489 A. Legal Consequences of Adoption 489 1. Parental Rights and Obligations 489 a. Birth Parents' Rights and Responsibilities 489 Idaho Code Ann. § 16-1509. 490 Ga. Code Ann. § 19-8-19. 490 b. Adoptive Parents' Rights and Responsibilities 490 Carter v. Carter 490 Notes and Questions 491 c. An Adoptee's Rights and Responsibilities 492 2. Name Change and Sealing of the Record 492 3. Inheritance and Succession Rights 492 Ga. Code Ann. § 19-8-19. 493 Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. v. Coffin 494 Read v. Legg 496 Notes and Questions 505 4. Conflict of Laws 506 Wheeler v. Myers 506 Notes and Questions 508 5. Postadoption Contact 508 6. Other Benefits for Adoptees and Adoptive Parents 508 a. Social Security Benefits 508 b. Wrongful Death Benefits 508 Buchea v. United States 509 Notes and Questions 511 c. Workers' Compensation Benefits 511 d. Health and Life Insurance Benefits 511 e. Tax Benefits for Adoptive Parents 511 f. Family Medical Leave Act Benefits for Adoptive Parents 512 g. An Adoptee's Eligibility for Benefits 512 Lennon v. Cumberland County 512 Notes and Questions 514 B. Social Consequences of Adoption 514 C. Psychological Consequences of Adoption 515 Long-term Outcomes in Adoption 515 Notes and Questions 522 Problem 10 522 Chapter 11. Confidentiality and Sealed Adoption Records 523 A. Competing Interests in Sealed Adoption Records Policies 526 1. Disclosure of Non-identifying Information 526 2. Disclosure of Identifying Information 527 a. Adoptees' Interests 527 Regulating Confidentiality of Surrogacy Records: Lessons from the Adoption Experience 528 . . . . 532 b. Birth Parents' Interests 532 c. Adoptive Parents' Interests 533 d. States' Interests 533 e. Balancing Competing Interests 534 Doe v. Sundquist 534 Notes and Questions 537 B. Automatic Disclosure of Birth Certificates 538 C. Conditional Disclosure Statutes 539 Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 710.68. 540 Notes and Questions 541 D. Disclosure and Contact Vetoes 541 1. Disclosure Vetoes 542 2. Contact Vetoes 542 E. Voluntary Mutual Consent Adoption Registries 543 F. Confidential Intermediary Searches 544 G. Effect of a Birth Parent's Death on a Contact or Disclosure Veto 544 H. Criminal Penalties and Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure or Contact 545 Notes and Questions 545 I. Efforts to Unseal Adoption Records in Courts 546 1. Procedure for Unsealing Records 546 2. Successful Petitions to Unseal Records 546 3. Unsuccessful Petitions to Unseal Records 547 a. Failure to Show Good Cause or Some Compelling Need 547 b. Adoptees' Constitutional Arguments 547 4. Court Interpretations of Good Cause 548 In the Matter of the Adoption of S.J.D. 548 Doe v. Ward Firm, P.A. 552 Notes and Questions 557 J. Outcomes of Unsealing Pre-adoption Records 558 Notes and Questions 558 Problem 11 559 Chapter 12. Postadoption Contact 561 A. Types of Postadoption Contact 563 1. Postadoption Contact by Mutual Agreement 563 a. Who May Enter into Postadoption Contact Agreements 564 b. Content of Agreements 566 2. Modification or Termination of Agreements 567 3. Enforcement of Agreements 568 Wis. Stat. Ann. § 785.04 569 Weinschel v. Strople 569 Notes and Questions 573 B. Court-ordered Postadoption Contact 574 1. Who May Receive Court-ordered Contact 574 a. Birth Parents' Access 575 b. Grandparents' Access 575 In re Visitation of J.D.G. 576 Notes and Questions 578 c. Siblings' Access 578 d. Other Relatives' Access 579 Adoption of Vito 579 Notes and Questions 585 2. Modification and Enforcement of Court Orders 586 C. The Effect of Postadoption Contact on Adoption Participants 586 Secrets and Lies: A Model Statute for Cooperative Adoption 586 Notes and Questions 594 Problem 12-1 594 Problem 12-2 594 Chapter 13. The Changing Status of Adoptions 597 A. Disruption of Adoptions 597 1. Reasons for Disruption 598 a. Child-related Reasons for Disruption 598 b. Parent-related Reasons for Disruption 598 2. Protecting Birth Parents' Rights upon Disruption 599 In re B.G.C. 600 3. Protecting Prospective Adoptive Parents' Rights Upon Disruption 606 Notes and Questions 607 B. Dissolution or Vacation of Adoptions 607 1. Reasons for Dissolution 607 a. Adoptee-related Reasons for Dissolving Adoptions 608 b. Parent-related Reasons for Dissolving Adoptions 608 c. The Court's Failure to Comply with Procedure 610 2. Dissolution Procedure 611 Adoption of B.J.H. 611 Notes and Questions 616 C. The Child's Post-Disruption/Dissolution Status 616 D. Postadoption Services 617 Notes and Questions 618 Problem 13 618 Chapter 14. Agency Misconduct and Wrongful Adoption Actions 619 A. Recognizing Wrongful Adoption 619 1. The Adoption Agency's and Intermediary's Duty to Prospective Adoptive Parents 619 N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 373-a. Medical histories 620 2. The Prospective Parent's Choice 621 3. Plaintiffs and Defendants in Wrongful Adoption Cases 621 4. Legal Theories in Wrongful Adoption Cases 621 5. The Defense of Public Agency Immunity 622 6. Relief for Adoptive Parents 622 B. The Child's Placement Upon Vacation of an Adoption Decree 623 C. The Importance of Revealing Medical Information in the Adoption Process 624 Roe v. Jewish Children's Bureau of Chicago 624 Notes and Questions 629 Problem 14 631 Appendices 633 Appendix A State-by-State Adoption Citations 635 Interstate Compacts on Placement of Children 636 Appendix B Sample Adoption Forms 637 Appendix C An Attorney's Perspective on Adoption 643 Appendix D Text of Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children 655 Appendix E Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption 659 Appendix F Selected Adoption Websites* 669 Index 671
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication:
Adoption -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Cases.
Adoption -- Law and legislation -- United States -- States -- Cases.