Deciding to build  your family through adoption or with the use of third party reproductive assistance is both exciting and stressful. For individuals or couples considering adoption, assisted reproductive technology or surrogacy as a means to achieving their family building goal, there are often many steps to work through and details to consider before starting the process.  Each of these processes takes time, patience and persistence.  Having an experienced, client centered attorney like Jennifer guide you through this journey can help minimize risks and reduce problems that could arise.  

For a discussion on general private adoption see Jennifer on "Making it Last" talking about Adoption.

Jennifer Fairfax is an accomplished family building attorney licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and has experience in helping clients explore adoption and assisted reproductive technology options. If you are adoptive or intended parents, she can guide searching parents through each step of the journey to help make your family complete. She offers legal counsel on all adoption options, and assists in navigating the avenues available in locating birth parents, surrogates, intended parents and, if preferred, working with a reputable agency. If you are interested in being a gestational carrier, Jennifer can help you get started down that path.

Jennifer is an AV Rated attorney by Martindale Hubbel.  An AV certification is a significant rating accomplishment, and a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. The AV rating shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. A lawyer must be admitted to the Bar for 10 years or more to receive an AV rating.  

To read what other clients have said about Jennifer's work with them you check out the testimonials on this Website.  
 
If you are birth parent who has decided to make an adoption plan, Jennifer can advise you of the options available for locating a family and advocate for you in the adoption process.  Jennifer offers all birth parents who are considering adoption a free phone or in person consultation to discuss their options.  She has represented many birth mothers and birth fathers during her career and can provide birth parents with a sounding board for an adoption plan, explain legal rights in a private placement and advocate for you through the process.

Jennifer has handled lesbian and gay legal issues for her entire career.  She has handled second parent adoptions for gay, lesbian and heterosexual clients all across Maryland and in the District of Columbia. She can provide you a smooth road to securing your legal rights as parents in either jurisdiction. She actively participates in LGBT forums and roundtables and speaks to other legal professionals on the legal and ethical routes to securing gay and lesbian parenting rights.

Maryland and the District of Columbia will name a lesbian couple as the parents of a child born to them when the birth mother identifies her partner at the hospital as her partner and the child's other mother. To see the letter issued to the Maryland Birth Registrar click here.  http://data.lambdalegal.org/in-court/downloads/exec_md_20110210_ss-spouse-instructions-to-facilities.pdf.   If you are a gay or lesbian parent, contact Jennifer about the process for second parent adoption in Maryland and the District of Columbia as this is still recommended to all parents in same sex relationships to secure their parental rights beyond the boundaries of Maryland and the District of Columbia.  

To hear Jennifer on the radio discussing Adoption and ART in the United States, click here: http://blog.samakowlaw.com/2011/02/406/ 

The website and information on Certificates of Birth (Birth Certificates) for Maryland Vital Statistics is: http://vsa.maryland.gov/ .

The website and information on Certificates of Birth for the District of Columbia is: http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,581955,dohnav_gid,1787,dohnav,%7C33120%7C.asp

To order Jennifer's book, "The Adoption Law Handbook, Practice, Resources and Forms" click the book title.

“I believe in working with each of my clients—in support of their family dynamic—to make the dreams of parenthood a reality. Whether you are single or married; or gay; a step-parent, a surrogate or intended parent or a child of adoption, it is my mission to serve as your advocate. With a dedication to the ethical and sensitive nature of each situation, I will help you understand the laws within Maryland or Washington, DC for adoption or surrogacy, and pledge to be your partner throughout the journey.” - Jennifer Fairfax

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