Does a surrogate have to consent to an adoption?

If you use a traditional surrogate, she will have to consent to an adoption by the non-biological parent of the child.  This may be a step-parent adoption if the intended parents are a heterosexual or a second parent adoption if the intended parents are a gay or lesbian couple.   If you use a gestational surrogate you can obtain a birth order declaring your parentage prior to the baby's birth avoiding the need for an adoption.

Revocation Period

In Maryland a birth parent has 30 calendar days to revoke their consent to an adoption.  In the District of Columbia consent is irrevocable upon execution for a private adoption and a birth parent has 7 days to revoke their consent to adoption if the baby is placed through an agency. 

What is the tax credit?

In 2010, the maximum credit allowed is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $13,170.  The credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with modified AGI in excess of $190,000.  This is not a deduction but a dollar for dollar tax credit.  The adoption tax credit is now refundable.  The adoption credit is calculated on Form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses 

Can Same Sex Clients Adopt?

 Yes.  In both Maryland and the District of Columbia gay and lesbian parents can adopt as single parents and as co-parents.  Florida is the only state that currently specifically forbids gay parents from adopting by statute.  Some other states will not grant same sex adoptions so talk to your attorney before you get started to ensure your adoption plan can be completed 

Second Parent Adoption

GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) Adoption

The first second parent adoption in Maryland was granted in late 1996 and the first second parent  adoption in the District of Columbia was granted in 1995. Having completed her 1997 clerkship where she reviewed, among other legal matters, adoption cases, Jennifer embarked on a career that included representing and advocating for gay and lesbian parents.  Under the mentorship of an attorney who championed second parent adoptions through the initial legal challenges, Jennifer had handled dozens of second parent and gay and lesbian adoptions by the end of her first year of private practice.  She was among the first attorneys to take on this area of the law and push forward for parental recognition of gay parents.  She fought hard for recognition of de facto parents for those who did not have legal parentage in Maryland and continues to advocate for legal parental recognition laws for gay and lesbian parents. 

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.  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 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 /.  T.   To see the Domestic Partnership Judicial Determination of Parentage Amendment Act of 2009, click here:  http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20090511122621.pdf 

Jennifer is one of the leading LGBT adoption attorneys in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Jennifer delivers high quality legal services for a reasonable cost.  She feels that anyone who is asked to pay more than two thousand dollars for an uncontested second parent adoption should questions why the process is costing that much.  Jennifer, being among the first attorneys to handle second parent adoptions, has a streamlined her process and provides direct client contact and regular communication to ensure proper and complete adoption filings.  When the adoption is uncontested (all legal/genetic parents consenting or anonymous donors) the process is paperwork and rule driven.  Jennifer has over ten years of handling these cases including teaching other lawyers how to handle second parent adoptions and welcomes the chance to advise any gay or lesbian family on how to secure legal protections for their family. 

Jennifer was recently seen on ABC News discussing the marriage recognition in Maryland and marriage in the District of Columbia specifically regarding the impact on GLBT clients considering becoming parents. Jennifer is one of the top attorneys on parentage matters through parental presumption, adoption,and parentage orders. If you are considering adoption, donor conception, marriage or any other avenue to forming a family and becoming a parent, contact Jennifer to discuss how to secure those rights to protect your child(ren).

Jennifer has extensive experience in finalizing adoptions for the LGBT community in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Jennifer has lectured, written and taught other legal professionals about second parent adoptions and is highly qualified and well known by the courts as a professional, efficient and ethical adoption attorney.

If a birth family is placing their child with a LGBT family, she will work with the LGBT family to create an adoption plan with the birth family so that the adoptive parents may bring the child home directly from the hospital. She handles every aspect of the adoption from the adoption plan, ICPC processing and finalization.

Jennifer also routinely handles second parent adoptions when one of the partners is a genetic parent and his or her partner is adopting the child whether the child was conceived with known donor or unknown donor, through surrogacy or egg or embryo donation. Jennifer has also successfully obtained pre-birth orders in certain cases involving LGBT clients when surrogacy or donors are utilized allowing both parents to be listed on the birth certificate when the child is born.

Client feedback demonstrates that Jennifer is one of the top adoption attorneys for the LGBT community. To read the client comments, look Jennifer up on www.avvo.com. Jennifer offers no cost in person initial consultations for LGBT families interested in adoption. Uncontested second parent adoptions are handled on a flat fee basis and Jennifer is the most competivetive priced attorney handling second parent adoptions in the area.

In the District of Columbia and throughout the state of Maryland, gay and lesbian individuals— both single individuals and couples— are eligible to adopt through an agency, foster care or through a private placement adoption.
 

For clients finalizing in Baltimore City, click this link to get directions.  http://www.baltocts.sailorsite.net/about/direction.html