With the progressive legislation recently passed, LGBT couples now have the fundamental right to be married, which signals a huge shift in the realm of adoption. Birth moms have unique preferences, creating opportunities for LGBT couples to adopt. Fortunately, the April 2016 mandate has allowed gay adoption to be legal in all 50 states. In …Read More about The Legal Side of LGBT Adoptions
The adoption process can be a beautiful and seamless experience with the right tools and resources. Depending on which route you choose, be it through an attorney, agency, or facilitator, there are precautions every adoptive parent should take in order to ensure they’re receiving ethical and quality services. If you’re opting for a more hands-on …Read More about 3 Questions You Should Ask Your Adoption Attorney
Even once you’ve made the decision to adopt, there are still many choices to be made and different ways to go about the process. Some prospective adoptive parents may only want to adopt an infant, while others may be more open to adopting toddlers or older children through the foster care system. Some parents welcome …Read More about Adoption Through Various Routes: Attorney, Agency, and Facilitator
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (“ICPC”) is an agreement among all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, regarding the adoption of a child across state lines. It applies to all cases in which the adoptive parent(s) reside in a state that is different from the state in …Read More about The Interstate Compact On The Placement of Children
Did you know that your employer may have an adoption benefit program to help you with the costs of your adoption? Indeed, in an effort to offer competitive employee benefits, more and more companies are implementing employee adoption benefit programs to help their employees defray adoption costs. Employer-based adoption benefit programs take different forms. Typical …Read More about Employer Adoption Benefit Programs and the Federal Family…
I have fielded many questions from adopting parents regarding the procedures to obtain a passport for their adopted child (U.S.-born only) when they are in the process of adopting or shortly after their adoption has been “finalized” but prior to receiving the child’s amended birth certificate. The good news is that prospective adoptive parents can …Read More about How to Obtain a Passport for the Child…
Adoptive parents can be reassured that under federal and California law, their health insurance plan must treat an adoptive child the same as a “natural” child and must provide coverage at the time the adoptive child is legally placed in their custody prior to finalization of the adoption. Section 609(c) of the Employee Retirement Income …Read More about Federal And State Law Require Health Care Insurers…
In order to obtain a Social Security number for your adopted child, your adoption must be finalized and the court must sign a final order of adoption or adoption decree. If the adoption is finalized in California, the final order is called an Adoption Order. The Social Security office requires you to bring proof of …Read More about How to obtain Social Security Card
The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”) is an important law that needs to be considered and evaluated in every domestic adoption. The ICWA was passed by the United States Congress more than 30 years ago and is codified in 25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. California codified ICWA in its Family Code and Welfare and …Read More about What You Should Know About The Federal “Indian…
There is great news for prospective adoptive parents! For 2024, the federal adoption tax credit is $16,810. The amazing thing about this tax credit is that it is not a deduction that reduces your income for purposes of determining your tax liability. Rather, it is a tax refund that is based on a dollar for …Read More about The 2024 Federal Adoption Tax Credit
Answer: In an effort to offer competitive employee benefits, more and more companies are implementing employee adoption benefit programs. Employee adoption benefits are paid by private employers to help their employees adopt. It is not uncommon to have an employer reimburse between $10,000 – $25,000 to employees who adopt domestically. Be sure to ask the …Read More about Can You Explain Employer Adoption Benefit Programs and…
I have fielded many questions from adopting parents regarding the procedures to obtain a passport for their adopted child (U.S.-born only) when they are in the process of adopting or shortly after their adoption has been “finalized” but prior to receiving the child’s amended birth certificate. The good news is that prospective adoptive parents can …Read More about How to Obtain a Passport for the Child…