By Karen Greenberg, Michael Voorhees, Larry Jenkins, and Mark Fiddler
Published by American Bar Association Family Law Section
KF 545 .G74 2021
November marks National Adoption Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of adoption and to recognize the families and professionals who support children in need of permanent homes. To honor this observance, the Harris County Hainsworth Law Library is highlighting a valuable resource from our print collection designed to support attorneys working in this highly sensitive and procedurally complex area of law.
Adoptions have existed for millennia and can trace their origins to the Bible and the ancient Near East. In modern times, adoption has evolved from the use of simple contracts to a statutorily regulated practice. To help lawyers navigate this complex and sensitive process, authors and adoption lawyers Karen Greenberg, Michael Voorhees, Larry Jenkins, and Mark Fiddler have written Contested Adoptions: A Lawyer’s Guide to All Sides. The authors begin with the basics: brief explanations of commonly used terms and a summary of the laws and procedures surrounding uncontested adoptions. Next, the authors examine various aspects of contested adoptions and offer perspectives from all parties: the expectant mother and father, the agency or authorized person to place, and prospective and adoptive parents. Of particular value is the practical guidance for handling an adoption case. From the assessment of the client’s case through discovery to the trial, the authors provide tips and advice to help readers prepare for a case that is by no means a happy one. The authors conclude their examination of contested adoptions with a discussion of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Later this week, in continued recognition of National Adoption Month and in observance of National Native American Heritage Month, we will spotlight another important title from our collection: The Indian Child Welfare Act Handbook: A Legal Guide to the Custody and Adoption of Native American Children. This title, another publication of the American Bar Association, is included in our LexisNexis Digital Collection, an ebook database that is freely accessible, by request, via our website. While Contested Adoptions gives attorneys a broad view of the complexities and emotional challenges that can arise in adoption disputes in general, The Indian Child Welfare Act Handbook takes a more specialized view of Native American families and tribal communities. Together, these two resources provide practitioners with both a wide-angle understanding and a critical, focused lens, guiding attorneys to navigate the legal complexities of adoption with respect for cultural integrity, federal policy, and the rights of all parties involved.