We are thrilled to announce that our esteemed colleague Jeanne T. Tate has once again been recognized as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Florida by Super Lawyers. This prestigious honor is a testament to Jeanne’s exceptional legal expertise, dedication to her clients, and unwavering commitment to the field of adoption law. Selected through a rigorous peer-review process, Jeanne’s inclusion in this elite group marks her sixth consecutive year as a Super Lawyers Top 10 Attorney in the entire State of Florida! WOW! Her unparalleled knowledge of adoption and assisted repro ..read more

The journey towards adoption is filled with hope, anticipation, and sometimes a few bumps. Perhaps the most stressful situation, though, is when hopeful adoptive parents receive news a birth parent may contest the adoption. This situation occurs most often when the birth mother chooses adoption, and the birth father disagrees with her decision. It is important for you, the prospective adoptive parents, to understand your options and to assess whether the child can be legally free for adoption. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s crucial to understand your rights and take immediate act ..read more

On June 13, 2024, the Senate voted on the Right to IVF Act, which did not pass, falling short at 48-47. In a nutshell, the Senate decided not to advance the bill that would have established federal protections for in vitro fertilization (“IVF”). At Tate Healey Webster, we understand how critical this decision is for many aspiring parents relying on IVF. The Right to IVF Act aimed to provide national access to individuals to receive IVF treatment and for doctors to provide said treatment. It also sought to make IVF treatment more affordable by mandating fertility treatment coverage th ..read more

Thank you to Governor DeSantis for signing House Bill 1083 into law which expands adoption benefits payable to public employees who adopt a foster care child.  Here are the pivotal changes to Florida Statutes 409.1664 which goes into effect July 1, 2024: * A $25,000 per child lump sum payment is being given to eligible employees who adopt a difficult to place child. * A $10,000 per child lump sum payment is being given to eligible employees who adopt a child who is not difficult to place. * Tax collector employees and health care practitioners are now eligible for these benefits. *Sta ..read more

Board-certified adoption attorney Erica T. Healey’s dedication to building families through adoption law has been recognized with the prestigious Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star award, an honor she’s received every year since 2015. This award acknowledges exceptional legal minds under 40, placing Erica among the top 2.5% of Florida attorneys. Erica’s expertise spans the complexities of adoption, from stepparent adoptions to interstate adoptions. She skillfully guides clients through contested adoptions, representing both adoptive parents and adoption agencies. Her experience also includes n ..read more

Tate Healey Webster is proud to represent adoption agencies across the state. We keep our finger on the pulse of evolving adoption and ART laws and issues, and always provide our firm clients with important updates and practical advice on how it affects their practice. Below is a brief summary of important revisions to Chapter 63 that are going into effect on July 1, 2024. Safe Haven Increased Age Limit:  The new law extends the surrender window to 30 days old.   Hospital Surrenders:  The legislation empowers mothers to confidentially surrender their newborns directly ..read more

Exciting news for Florida families! House Bill 775, taking effect July 1, 2024, brings significant changes to our state’s law regarding surrendered infants. At Tate Healey Webster, we applaud these advancements that prioritize the well-being of birth parents and children and are proud that lawmakers consulted with one of our attorneys, Jeanne T. Tate, in revising this law. For over 20 years, Florida law has offered a safe and legal option for a birth parent to choose for their infant, instead of abandoning a baby in a dangerous situation. Specifically, a birth mother o ..read more

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