Public Patron's Guide to Family Law

This compilation of the best thinking about adoption by both historical and current authorities reveals a vital, ever-changing practice affecting the lives of millions of people around the globe. Primary sources include testimony from hearings and court cases, and case studies explain and illuminate concepts.

Covers many new developments including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, laws concerning adoptions by gays and lesbians, tax issues, school and adopted children, birthfather rights, transracial adoptions, international adoptions, and paternity.

Every year assisted reproduction becomes more common as new reproductive technologies are added. Proven procedures and emerging technologies are discussed with answers to questions like: What should you do to prevent a sperm or egg donor from later claiming custody of your child? Why does a surrogate's husband need to be a party to the contract? How can a surrogacy contract help you spot potential problems? What steps should you take for the disposition of frozen genetic material?

Adopting a child is an extraordinarily important decision. The book discusses the various types of adoptions; alerts readers to adoption scams; and guides readers in selecting a reputable attorney or adoption agency. Highlights include: The rights of the birth mother, birth father, and the issues involved in an open versus a closed adoption.

This comprehensive book includes information on both the medical/health aspects of adoption and the different laws and procedures regarding adoption for each state. The authors provide a consolidated picture of the regulations for inter-country adoptions in addition to those for adoption from public foster care and domestic infant adoption.

According to the National Adoption Clearinghouse, more than 120,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. This almanac sets forth the various types and circumstances of adoption, the adoption process, and the state and federal laws governing adoption. Consent requirements and the rights of putative fathers are also examined, and the pros and cons of open adoptions.