Insights & Guidance At Tate Healey Webster, we are not just witnesses to the evolution of international adoption—we’re dedicated participants in the journey that brings families together. With international adoptions becoming more infrequent, the importance of each family’s story grows. In 2022, we saw 1,517 such stories unfold, and although we anticipate fewer every year, each number holds a world of joy and connection. Why the Decline? There are multiple factors contributing to the decrease in international adoptions: Preference Policies: Countries give preference to families of heritag ..read more

Many children in foster care qualify for social security benefits; however, what happens to the benefits received by the Title IV-E agency (foster care agency) as payee can vary state-to-state. Over the past couple of years, there have been numerous articles about states that collect social security checks for children in care and use the money to cover the costs of the children’s care. There has been a push to end foster children paying for their care while in foster care (see a recent article on this topic here).   Children in care who receive social security benefits have met one ..read more

Making an adoption plan is a brave and courageous decision.  If you are exploring adoption as an option or have made a decision to place your child for adoption you should make sure to become informed about your rights.  An adoption attorney can provide you not only an overview of your options but can also explain your legal rights.  You can reach out to an adoption attorney  by going to www.adoptionattorneys.org and clicking on “find an attorney.” Our firm would be glad to receive your call or text  A birth parent also has the right to counseling with a lice ..read more

Except in close relative placements, if you are adopting a child from another state, you must receive approval from the Interstate Compact Office in your state of residence and the child’s state of residence (or place of birth) before traveling home with the child. Failure to do so can result in sanctions and the denial of your adoption. It is so important to consult with an adoption attorney to discuss this important area of adoption law, so your adoption does not become an illegal one. Below, I have answered some commonly asked questions about the ICPC process.   What is the Interstate ..read more

California has outlawed the use of unlicensed facilitators to broker adoptions or match prospective parents with pregnant mothers. Advocates of the new law allege many facilitators operate with little oversight, charge exorbitant rates to potential adoptive parents, and take advantage of poor and struggling pregnant women. Opponents of the law claim adoption facilitators have large networks to enable a thorough match screening process and can help adoptive families speed their adoption process along.  All adoption facilitators must cease operations by Jan. 1. The California Departmen ..read more

More than 113,000 children in foster care are waiting for a safe, permanent adoptive home right now. Foster care adoption is inexpensive and financial support is available for families, including federal and state tax credits. Many employers also provide adoption benefits, and subsidies are available for most children in foster care until they are 18 years old. You do not have to be wealthy to adopt from foster care. For more information, call us at (800) 874-4916  or visit  Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc ..read more

In a world where the definition of family is continually evolving, the fight for equal parental rights remains a critical battle for justice and inclusivity. As advocates in this realm, The Law Office of Jeanne T Tate P.A. has witnessed firsthand the profound impact that outdated legal frameworks can have on non-traditional families. The recent case of a lesbian mother losing her parental rights to her wife’s child and the biological father serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by families whose love transcends societal norms. The ruling in the case of Wilson v. Wil ..read more

Hospital Packing List for Adoptive Parents So, you are adopting an infant, and you get that much-awaited call telling you that your baby is on the way! Whether you have expected the call for months because of a lengthy match period or whether the call was completely unexpected and out of the blue, how do you know when you are ready to leave for the hospital? The reality is that we often pack more than we could ever use, yet we tend to leave out one or two of the more important items and end up running to the store. I am a planner, so I like to have a list of items that I can check-off. In the ..read more

Federal Adoption Tax Credit Increases To $15,950 The IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2022-38 on October 18, 2022, and the details of the Federal Adoption Tax Credit for adoptions finalized in 2023 are as follows: For adoptions finalized in 2023 the maximum credit will be $15,950 and the maximum credit will begin to be phased out when the adoptive parents’ Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for 2023 is greater than $239,230, and they will not be entitled to any credit if their MAGI is equal to or greater than $279,230 for 2023 ..read more

IS IT TOO LATE TO ADOPT? THE ADOPTEE IS AN ADULT. Often times, we are contacted by individuals who are concerned their ability to adopt has expired by virtue of the proposed adoptee having reached the age of majority. We love to bring joy and hope when we explain that it is not too late to adopt! Not only does Florida law allow the adoption of adults, but the process is truncated! 63.062(8) of the Florida Statutes states: A petition to adopt an adult may be granted if: (a) Written consent to adoption has been executed by the adult and the adult’s spouse, if any, unless the spouse’s consent is ..read more