For Adoptive Parents:
Services We Provide To You

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ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ADOPTIVE PARENTS

Adoption Process Orientation.
At your request, we will send you a videotape entitled, "Two Different Kinds of Love" to view in the privacy of your home, which describes the foundation for the independent adoption process and will allow you to gain an understanding of independent adoption in an "open format" to help you evaluate your goals and formulate questions which will allow us to tailor the adoption conference to your specific needs.

Adoption Conference.
This is a 4.5 to 6 hour meeting at our office which covers, among other things, the following topics: your interests, concerns, and goals; the legal ramifications of independent, "open format" adoption, including your rights and responsibilities in accordance with California law; if you are not a resident of California, we will discuss any concerns you have with your home state's requirements to determine if we can assist you based on your home state guidelines; identifying risks and rewards of the adoption process for both you and the birth parent(s); examining the financial and emotional stresses which may accompany your adoption; explaining the process we use in locating and preparing the birth parent(s) in meeting you, including a review of materials given to birth parent(s); coaching you in communicating openly and effectively during your initial meeting with the birth parent(s).

Birth Parent Search/Outreach.
We locate your birth mom through direct advertising and through referrals from various sources. We take pride in our excellent r eputation and goodwill in the adoption community. Having been in the field of adoption for many years, many birth parent(s) are attracted to our hands-on participation and counseling-oriented services. In addition, we have developed contacts in the medical community and adoption community, and birth parent(s) are referred to us through doctors, medical facilities, school counselors, and adoptive parents and birth parent(s) who have previously worked with us.

Birth Parent Orientation/Screening.
After qualifying a birth mother by telephone and reviewing her completed questionnaire, we invite her to our office for a day of education and counseling. Sometimes a birth parent has not yet made a commitment to adoption when they come to our office. The meeting helps her in exploring adoption and considering her options, which in some cases, they do determine that keeping the child, or some other arrangement, would be better for their situation. Our intake and counseling procedures can help a birth parent come to choice and either continue with our services and meet adoptive parents or proceed with another plan. Adoptive parents ultimately need to assess the birth parent's commitment to her adoption plan.

Birth Parent"Match" Meeting Preparation.
We prepare the birthparent(s) by clarifying what adoptive parent qualities are important to them and also coach them on how to interact with you to ascertain whether you are the appropriate adoptive parents for their unborn infant. A unique service we provide is facilitating your bonding with your birth parent(s). In the course of this 6-8 hour initial meeting, you will have the opportunity of getting to know your birth parent and vice versa. The connection that is established between adoptive parents and birth parents and the bond that is subsequently formed is powerful and important to the completion of your adoption. Not only do we facilitate this critical initial meeting but also moderate the discussion to make for a positive and productive interaction and bonding process with your birth parent.

Coaching and Counseling Throughout the Process.
Another important and critical aspect of the adoption process is the accessibility and availability of coaching and counseling for both the birth parent and adoptive parents. This paves the way for honest and direct communication between the adoptive parents and birth mother.

Legal Representation.
We represent only the adoptive parents throughout the adoption. Birth parents have a right to independent counsel, and adoptive parents may be required to cover the cost of independent representation. If you are not a California resident, we work your home state attorney and/or agency to ensure that your adoption complies with your home state regulations. Since we are only licensed to practice law in California, your home state attorney and/or agency will take the responsibility of completing the adoption in your home state.

WHAT YOU CAN COUNT ON FROM US
- Complete answers to all of your questions about independent adoption generally, our firm's policies and procedures, and your particular adoption opportunities;

- Supportive and educational coaching from our initial phone conversations to our face-to face meetings to the finalization of your child's legal adoption;

- Accurate and timely information about any developments affecting your adoption opportunity which we are privy to, including ambivalence or health concerns on the part of the birth parent(s), relative changes in California law pertaining to your adoption, etc.; and

- A full accounting of all expenditures, including legal fees and associated expenses as well as maternity-related expenses paid on behalf of the birth parent(s) (medical costs, living expenses, transportation, etc.), prior to your court appearance.