Contested Adoptions: A Lawyer’s Guide to All Sides

Even in the best of cases, an adoption involves high emotions and a need for certainty. While the legal guidelines and relevant statutes for a particular case may be clear, there is the potential for pitfalls and challenges throughout the entire process. To make certain that the practitioner’s efforts are focused on the best interests of the child, Contested Adoptions: A Legal Guide to All Sides provides guidance, practice commentary, and client-focused insights drawn from the authors’ combined decades of practice in the area of adoption law. Throughout the book, the authors address topics from the perspective of each of the various parties involved in adoption: the expectant mother and father, the prospective and adoptive parents/family (mother, father, child), and the public or private adoption agency. Topics address the full range of issues that can be involved in an adoption, including: - The legal definition of the various terms involved in an adoption case and the importance of using them judiciously and correctly- Terminating parental rights and setting aside an adoption decree- How to start and handle a contested adoption case- Preparing for and avoiding trial- Post-adoption issues- The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)- The Indian Child Welfare Act and its application in contested adoptions- Relevant state law summaries, and more