Using The Law To Bring Families Together
South Carolina law was amended last year to require all private adoptions of children being placed in South Carolina to be initiated and finalized in South Carolina. I affectionately call it the "South Carolina Rule." The law is explained in this blog post.
Section 63-9-1110(5) of the South Carolina Code of Laws outlines the the…
I know that this isn’t something that you typically post about, but I thought that you and
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A Consent and Relinquishment( "Consent") is an adoption attorney’s best tool for a smooth adoption. With one from each parent in hand , the adoption will be made final with few or no problems with few exceptions.
Executing a consent can be as easy as executing a simple will or as complicated as executing a complex contract between…
In my last blog, I talked about the ramification of the recent Roe v. Reese decision on father’s rights and the effects it has on my clients; my take seems to be elementary compared with Gregory S. Forman’s take. You can read his take at his blog.
In Roe v. Reeves, the adoptive parents appeal a family court’s decision where the birth father claims his consent was necessary prior to another couple adopting his child. The family court agreed with the father; the Supreme Court reversed stating that the father did not undertake sufficient good faith effort to assume parental responsibility…
The below requirements apply to any civil action or proceeding, including any child custody proceeding, in which the Defendant does not make an appearance.
A Plaintiff is required to let the Court know via an affidavit whether or not the Defendant is in military service or not.
The consequence of a Defendant being in the…
Any father whose consent and relinquishment is required must be named a defendant in an adoption proceeding if he does not consent and relinquish his rights.
If the child was conceived or born during the marriage of husband and wife whether or not the husband is the actual father, the husband’s consent and relinquishment is required. If he…
The 2010 tax credit is refundable up to $13,170. If your child is determined to be special needs then you will receive the whole tax credit no matter how much you spent. My friends at about.com have a great article explaining the tax credit thoroughly at this link. By the way, refundable means you…
If you are adopting a child that is not related to you by blood or marriage, you need a home study.
"Before the placement of any child by any agency or by any person with a prospective adoptive parent, a preplacement investigation (home study)… and [a report of this investigation] must be completed," pursuant to Section…
LDS Family Service has resources to help you if you are pregnant. You can find those resources at itsaboutlove.org or call 1-800-537-2229 for information and help.