Going Green Fundraiser December 5th!

The Feminist Women's Health Center is sponsoring a Going Green Garage Sale this Sunday - just in time for the holidays. The goal is to raise funds for eco-friendly medical and cleaning supplies for their facility. Books, games, electronics, furniture and more will be available. For details, click here.

Cute Kid Friday: Joshua

Joshua, age 7 weeks, on his own and visiting the office with Amy.

November is National Adoption Month

Did you know that November is National Adoption month? In many jurisdictions there are state-sponsored celebrations centered around adoption including a Saturday when the juvenile court is open specifically to finalize a large number of public agency (DFCS) adoptions.

President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation for National Adoption Month. The full text of the proclamation can be found here.

Happy National Adoption Month!

Cute Kid Friday: Brodie and Finn

Brodie, 3, and Finn, 9 months, at the pumpkin patch.

Toddlers and the iPhone

This recent New York Times article highlights a growing trend: using the iPhone to appease and entertain children as young as 6 months old.

Do you allow your child to play with your iPhone? At what age should parents allow their children to play with electronic devices like the iPhone?

Cute Kid Friday: Milo

Milo, age 1, with the globe in her hands!
Photograph by Dustin Chambers

Maybe Baby? Part 2 is Tomorrow Night and it's FREE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Is Donor Insemination For You?

Discussion Topics:
* How the Insemination Process Works
* Summary of the Steps to Beginning the Insemination Journey
* Review of the Current Fertility Statistics
* Holistic and Traditional Options for Increasing Fertility
* How OUR Program Optimizes YOUR Chances of Success

SESSION TIME: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
LOCATION: 1924 Cliff Valley Way, Atlanta, GA 30329

FOR MORE INFORMATION, Contact Gail:
gailp@feministcenter.org
404-929-1738

Cute Kid Friday: Alex

Alexander, at home and in court for his big day!
















Alex with Associate Attorney Amy Wallas in the Judge's office.

MEGA Family Conference - October 2, 2010

The MEGA Family Project is proud to announce the second Annual MEGA Family Conference after a very successful first conference! This conference is the only of its kind in the Southeast, and will be a great opportunity for LGBT parents, couples, prospective parents, families, their children, friends, educators and community members to come together to discuss LGBT family issues.

The 2nd Annual MEGA Family Conference will host multiple topics that attendees can choose from. Each conference hour attendees will have the option of choosing which of the many workshop topics they would like to attend depending on their interests.

Click here for more information and to register for the conference, which will be held in Atlanta at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA).

The Kinder Gentler Law Firm

Claiborne & Surmay P.C. Associate Attorney Amy Wallas and Belle, an 8 year old Great Pyrenees, visit in our office.

Cute Kid Friday: Callan and Cassidy

Callan and Cassidy, 10 week old twins. This is one of my very favorite photos.

StoryCorps Atlanta Opportunity Coming Up!

As you may know: October is LGBT History Month and Atlanta Pride! As you make plans to attend Atlanta Pride this year, you may want to stay an extra day and make a reservation to share your story.

StoryCorps Atlanta is working with Georgia Equality and other local LGBTQ organizations to encourage everyone to come tell their stories. Participants have 40 minutes to record a conversation with a loved one. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the Library of Congress.

StoryCorps OutLoud is a project to record and preserve the voices of LGBTQ individuals across the nation. Sharing our stories honors the history, struggles and character of our community, and preserving them in the Library of Congress will ensure all voices and experiences are celebrated and remembered for generations to come.

Tell Your Story - Three Ways to Make an Appointment:

Call: 1-800-850-4406

Visit: www.wabe.org/storycorps

E-mail: atl+GeorgiaEquality@storycorps.org

Please include your name and phone number.

The StoryCorps website has information on What to Expect when you come to StoryCorps and a Question Generator to help you create a list of questions.

The mission of StoryCorps is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve the stories of our lives.

Cute Kid Friday: Alana and Madison

Twins Alana and Madison at age 4 months. Double trouble!

Maybe Baby? FREE Information Meetings Coming Soon!

The Feminist Women's Health Center Presents:

Maybe Baby?

TWO FREE Informational Meetings

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Legal and Emotional Considerations: Issues for GLBT Parents
Discussion Topics:
* Second Parent Adoption
* Legal Matters Facing GLBT Families
* Adoption as a Parenting Option
* The Emotional Aspect of Adopting a Child
* The Unique Issues of GLBT Parenting

AND

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
Is Donor Insemination For You?
Discussion Topics:
* How the Insemination Process Works
* Summary of the Steps to Beginning the Insemination Journey
* Review of the Current Fertility Statistics
* Holistic and Traditional Options for Increasing Fertility
* How OUR Program Optimizes YOUR Chances of Success

BOTH SESSIONS: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
LOCATION: 1924 Cliff Valley Way, Atlanta, GA 30329

FOR MORE INFORMATION, Contact Gail:
gailp@feministcenter.org
404-929-1738

Cute Kid Friday: Kendall

Kendall, age 2 1/2, at the playground. Love the shirt!

Cute Kid Friday: Lorelai

Lorelai, nearly 18 months, enjoying the playground.

In Praise of Adoption

NPR's Fresh Air recently featured Scott Simon, the host of NPR's Weekend Edition, discussing the adoptions of his two daughters and his new book, "Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption". Simon and his wife, Caroline, adopted both their daughters from China. For an excerpt from the book, photos and the full interview, click here.

Cute Kid Friday: Benjamin

Benjamin, 7 weeks, lets out a cute yawn in our office.

Lori Surmay Speaks at NCJFCJ Annual Conference

Attorney Lori Surmay in San Diego, California during the NCJFCJ Annual Conference.

On July 20, 2010, attorney Lori Surmay spoke to The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges during that group's annual conference in San Diego. NCJFCJ selected Lori and her co-presenter, attorney Ellen Yarrell, from Houston, Texas, from a long list of interested speakers. Both Lori and Ellen are Fellows in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and Ellen is a past Academy President. They spoke to a group of approximately 50 attendees from all over the country including Ellen's and Lori's own stomping grounds - a judge from Houston and a Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Ellen and Lori debunked many myths about the impact on children of being raised by same-gender couples, and informed the audience of the many studies and well-known medical, psychological and legal organizations which support same gender parenting. The presentation and discussion also included timely topics such as the movie, "The Kids Are Alright" - about lesbian parenting and a sperm donor, to France's recent recognition of a second parent adoption. Ellen and Lori answered many questions for attendees and were very well received.

Of note: the incoming NCHFCJ President is Judge Michael Key from LaGrange, Georgia. Click here to read an article and see more photos from the conference on the NCJFCJ website.

Cute Kid Friday: Will and Brooks

Will, 6, and Brooks, 3, enjoying time at the beach.

Turmoil for some Haitian Adoptions in the US

Apparently, the Haitian humanitarian parole program for orphans instituted after the earthquake has had some unanticipated consequences that point out the pitfalls of implementing such a program quickly and without many resources. Last week the New York Times ran an article about the chaos of US adoptions from Haiti, including lack of proper paperwork and even not having families to adopt children brought here under the humanitarian parole status. Read the full article here.

Cute Kid Friday - Landon

Landon, age 3 months, enjoying time at home.

Toy Party August 8

There is a great online toy store called Gifted Imaginations, a place for fun, festive, unique, imaginative toys and children's clothing.

They will be bringing some of the best toys for ALL ages on Sunday August 8, 2010 from 2 PM until 4:30 PM.

Location:
Lockhart-Keener House
2115 Carthage Rd.
Tucker, GA

Please come out and enjoy all the new toys! Kaloo, Haba, Melissa & Doug, Selecta, Educo/Hape and many more. Come learn why Plan Toys are so popular; they are fundamentally strong and primarily designed to enhance IQ and EQ development while thoroughly entertaining children.

Come eat some good food - drink a Toytini or two and see some of the latest greatest toys of the season. Feel free to bring a friend or two.

Cute Kid Friday: Hugo

Hugo relaxing on the couch and showing his toes! Age 5 months.

An Extraordinary Decision for Unmarried Couples in France

It is with great happiness that our firm shares this major victory for clients of ours. Several years ago, Lori Surmay finalized here in Georgia a second parent adoption for a lesbian couple, one of whom is French. For years, they fought through the French legal system seeking French recognition of the adoption. The courts kept getting caught up in fears that the second parent’s adoption would somehow negate the rights of the first parent, the biological mother, despite evidence to the contrary including an affidavit stating that the U.S. final adoption order created a “second” legal parent (in addition to, not in replacement of, the first). On the same day recently that our French client earned her U.S. citizenship, the highest French court ruled in her favor. See a translation of one of the French articles published in Le Monde.

As the child spends a great deal of time in France with her grandparents, the family is greatly relieved that she now may be eligible for dual citizenship and a work visa in the future. When Lori first met this family, the little girl was in utero. She now ranks as one of the top swimmers in the state for 11 year olds. She is a normal child whose parents went to extraordinary measures to plan for her future and to provide her every advantage they could. This case will change things for all unmarried adoptive parents in France and we are thrilled with the outcome. Vive la France!

Cute Kid Friday

Every Friday Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. will post the photo of a cute kid who we know on this blog, including the child's or children's first name(s) and age(s) and an optional caption written by the parent(s). Former and current clients will be preferred over any others. Please email cute kids photos with child's first name, age and optional caption to Amy Wallas at amy@gababylaw.com

Up first: Cooper.

Cooper, age 17 months, on summer vacation.

Haiti Adoption News and Notes

Last month Ruth Claiborne of Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. finalized the adoption of two children from Haiti, brought to the United States on humanitarian parole. A limited number of Haitian orphans whose adoptions were already in process were allowed into the United States soon after the devastating earthquake in January. This is different from typical Haitian adoptions, where the adoption is finalized in Haiti and then domesticated in the United States. Haiti is still currently closed to new adoptions, although they are continuing to process adoptions initiated prior to the earthquake.

In related news, the Help Haiti Act of 2010 as well as the Lofgren bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 20, 2010. The Help Haiti Act, also known as as the Fortenberry Act, aims to give Haitian children who came here through humanitarian parole the same status as children who come through IR-4 visas. The Lofgren bill will change the age limit of the child from 16 years old to 18 years old for purposes of immigration.

Lori Surmay speaks at NCJFCJ Annual Meeting in San Diego

Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. attorney Lori Surmay will speak at the 73rd Annual Conference of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, to be held July 18 - 21, 2010 in San Diego, California. Lori will co-present with Houston attorney Ellen Yarrell on Adoption Placement with Gay and Lesbian Parents. The lineup also includes presentations on domestic violence and its affect on youth, new approaches to delinquency cases including juvenile drug and alcohol courts, intercountry adoption, custody issues and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). For a full program schedule, click here.

Adopting from Haiti

Since the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, our firm has received multiple inquiries from people interested in adopting Haitian orphans. While it is likely that adoptions from Haiti will resume eventually, no new applications are being accepted at this time. Instead, child welfare advocates around the globe agree that the best practice is to search for relatives and local caregivers for children in Haiti, while helping the nation of Haiti to rebuild and implement an improved child welfare system.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute recently convened to hold "Building a Strong Foundation for Children and Families of Haiti", at which international experts came together to discuss and brainstorm about most effective ways to serve Haiti's children and families.

Adoptions that were in process prior to the earthquake continue. Some families were able to bring their children home through humanitarian parole, a short-term allocation that made it possible for children already identified and in the process of being adopted, to immigrate to the United States without first being adopted in Haiti. Instead the initial adoptions of these children are taking place in the US.

RESOLVE Family Building Conference

On May 1, 2010, partner Ruth Claiborne, associate attorney Amy Wallas and senior paralegal Toni Treadway participated in RESOLVE's 1st Annual Family Building Conference, held in Atlanta at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Ruth spoke to attendees about surrogacy. Her presentation included information about screening and finding gestational carriers, the importance of having a surrogacy consultation with an experienced attorney, the Gestational Agreement, the pitfalls of traditional surrogacy and court orders and hospital protocols.

Amy spoke about grassroots adoption, including finding a birth mother through networking, how to create a great profile and the pitfalls of relying on the Internet and virtual agencies.

Toni staffed the Claiborne & Surmay table, fielding questions from attendees about the firm's family building services. The event was a huge success and several lucky winners went home with valuable prizes such as IVF treatments.

Ruth Claiborne Speaks in New Orleans at ABA Family Law Section

Ruth Claiborne was a featured speaker at the ABA Family Law Section 2010 Spring CLE conference in New Orleans. Her talk focused on surrogacy and she participated in a debate about assisted reproductive technologies.

Lori Surmay on Adjunct Faculty at UGA

Partner Lori M. Surmay was invited to teach a "Sexuality and the Law" seminar class at the University of Georgia Law School for 2L and 3L students during the Spring 2010 semester. Classes focused on case law as well as contemporary legal issues in sexuality, incorporating news articles and current events along with a casebook. Class discussion was a major part of the course and students wrote a final paper in lieu of a traditional law school examination.

Ruth Claiborne and Lori Surmay Join AAARTA

Both partners of Claiborne & Surmay, PC have become fellows in the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AARTA). AAARTA is a professional organization dedicated to best practices in the area of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). To become a fellow, candidates must submit a lengthy application, proving competence in this unique law practice area. Invitations for membership are only extended after a thorough investigation of the candidate and approval by the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) Board of Trustees. Ruth and Lori are also both fellows in AAAA.

Congratulations Ruth and Lori!

Welcome!

The law firm of Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. created a blog to share important news and notes about adoption, assisted reproduction, our law firm and our law firm staff. Here we are! We look forward to sharing news and opinions with you and we want to hear from you also. Please email associate Amy K. Wallas at amy@gababylaw.com or leave a comment here on our blog.