Lauren Bates has been named a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (“AAAA”).  AAAA provides a credentialed presence in the law of family formation and is the largest professional organization of its type dedicated to advancing the security of children through permanent adoption, the protection of children through safe and secure foster care with appropriate permanency planning, and the recognition of intended parents as legal parents for those using modern technology to build families through assisted reproductive technology. Located around the globe – inc ..read more

Whether you’re considering adoption, in the process of adoption, or already navigating life as an adoptive parent, having access to valuable resources is so important. Books, in particular, can offer insight, guidance, and support at every step of the adoption journey. Understanding the Basics: For those new to adoption, starting with books that provide a comprehensive overview of the process can be incredibly helpful. Look for titles that cover topics such as different types of adoption (domestic, international, foster care), legal procedures, emotional considerations, and the experiences o ..read more

Adopting a child is a joyous and fulfilling journey that comes with its own set of challenges. To alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with adoption, the United States government offers the Adoption Tax Credit. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of this tax credit, exploring its purpose, eligibility criteria, and how it can provide some financial relief to adoptive parents. Purpose of the Adoption Tax Credit: The Adoption Tax Credit was established to assist adoptive parents with the significant costs associated with the adoption process. It is designed to make a ..read more

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As you may have heard, California recently passed AB120, which includes a ban on adoption facilitators in the state that goes into effect on January 1, 2024. I’ve received quite a few questions on this so I hope to answer some of them here. What is an adoption facilitator? An adoption facilitator is an organization or individual that is in the business of matching prospective adoptive parent(s) with expectant/birth parent(s) who are considering placing their child for adoption. As explained by the California Department of Social Services, “An Adoption Facilitator’s only legitimate service is t ..read more

What is Open Adoption? At its very basic definition, open adoption essentially means that identifying information is exchanged between birth parent and adoptive parents. As a broader principle, open adoption is an arrangement in which the birth parents and the adoptive parents maintain some level of contact and communication after the adoption is finalized. It is a collaborative approach that prioritizes the well-being and best interests of the child while acknowledging and respecting the ongoing connection between the birth parents and the child. In an open adoption, the level of openness can ..read more

Click below for a great article from Bankrate on how to afford adoption. https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/affording-adoption-cost ..read more

One of my favorite texts to send a client: “ICPC is approved. You can now travel home!” ICPC stands for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Essentially, it is an agreement amongst all of the states that before a child can cross state lines for the purposes of adoption, both the sending state and the receiving state have to sign off on the placement. In order to comply with ICPC, there is a certain process that must be followed and both states must approve the placement before a child can leave his/her birth state. An ICPC packet of documentation is submitted to each state’s I ..read more

People are sometimes surprised to learn that you can adopt an adult in California. For me, they are some of my favorite cases to handle because of the meaningfulness to all parties! This quote was the reasoning for a recent adult adoption I had the honor of handling. ❤️ Often adult adoption cases involve an adoption by a step-parent or another parent-like figure, or it’s an adoption of a young adult where the adoption couldn’t be completed prior to the adoptee turning 18 for one reason or another. In an adult adoption, the petitioner and adoptee enter into an agreement to have a legal parent ..read more

Happy National Adoption Awareness Month! I primarily work on private adoptions, but today I want to highlight foster care adoption. As of the end of 2021, there were an estimated 114,000 children in the US foster care system that are eligible for adoption, meaning a court has already determined that reuniting them with biological family is unfortunately not an option. In California alone, there are an estimated 15,000 children eligible for adoption. [Source: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Children’s Bureau, A ..read more