New Blog Site

The Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. blog has now moved!

From this point forward please access our blog at:

http://www.gababylaw.com/blog/

Adoption Tax Credit Scrutinized by IRS

The IRS appears to be scrutinizing adoption tax credit claims more vigorously this year, perhaps because the credit was refundable for the first time in 2010. Several former clients have called our office to let us know they are being audited, some because of tax credits they applied for more than 5 years ago. CNN Money has an article about the tax credit and the IRS' treatment of it here. The Federal Adoption Tax Credit helps many families afford the high costs of adoption and also motivates families to adopt special needs children, as the entire credit may be claimed for a special needs child even if no costs were involved.

** This post is not meant to constitute tax advice. For advice about the Federal Adoption Tax Credit please talk to a certified public accountant.

Savannah Office Hosts Training Session

In conjunction with Young Lawyers Division and Georgia Legal Services Program, on May 18, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. will host a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) training session at its Savannah office, located at 410 E. Bay Street. Food and beverage will be provided.

A TPO is an invaluable tool to help the victims of domestic abuse get the protection they need. Cases are initiated by Safe Shelter, and volunteer attorneys handle the hearing where the victim requests a 12 month protective order. Each case takes about 2 to 5 hours in total, and it’s a rewarding way to help a victim of domestic abuse.

Please contact Will Claiborne with any questions. (912) 236-9559.

Mother's Day / Mothers' Day Post

from The New Yorker magazine:

Free Mother's Day Storytelling Event - May 8

Families looking to celebrate Mother's Day now have a new, free entertainment option: an afternoon of storytelling for all ages in Decatur's historic square.

TIME: 3 PM - 5 PM

WHO: Storytellers Ernestine Brown, Janice Butt, LaDoris Bias-Davis and Tommy Tye

WHERE: Decatur, GA historic square

Co-hosted by Southern Order of Storytellers and Sure Foot Adventures.

For more information click here or contact Sure Foot Adventures President Jonah McDonald
by email or by phone at 404-373-8036.

Cute Kid Friday: 3 Brothers

Nolan, Kelly and Becker - what a cute crew!

Mrs. Butterworth's Breakfast Ball - March 27 in Piedmont Park

WHAT: Family Breakfast Ball at Piedmont Park - families get a sneak peek of Mrs. Butterworth's limited edition spring bottles and downloadable wardrobe collection as well as a free pancake and waffle breakfast.

WHEN: Sunday, March 27, 2011 - 9:30 AM to noon

WHERE: Piedmont Park's Magnolia Hall Lawn - 400 Park Dr. NE Atlanta, GA 30306

COST: FREE!

Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down of Adoption Process

Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) has announced it will process only five (5) adoption cases per day, effective March 10, 2011. The average prior to this change was fifty (50) cases per day. This is a major change, which will likely to lead to extended wait times for prospective adopting parents currently in process with an Ethiopian adoption. The cutbacks are reportedly in response to worries of fraud in adoption procedures in Ethiopia. To read the US State Department Press Release click here. To read an interesting, lengthy blog post on whether these cutbacks are necessary and effective, click here.

Free Picnic BBQ at Piedmont Park - March 27

Pride at Six Flags (Unity Entertainment) and Atlanta LGBT Families (The Roy G Biv Project) presents:


A Free Picnic BBQ at Piedmont Park! Sunday March 27 from 2 PM to 6 PM

Look for the big rainbow umbrella at the new playground near the lake/pool area. Bring your own blanket and law chairs, games, kids, friends, dogs, shades, suntan or sunblock oil and the SPIRIT of UNITY.

Also feel free to bring your own snacks. The following will be provided:

- hotdogs (beef, chicken, turkey)
- hamburgers
- baked beans
- potato salad

The BBQ is free: however, Donations are encouraged and needed. Proceeds will go towards planning future LGBT events, as well as the Angel of Hope Foundation, an organization combating homelessness among women, children and teen victims of domestic violence. Can't wait to see you there! Click here for further details on Facebook.

Cute Kid Friday: Reader

Reader, Age 2 1/2 - we love the outfit, especially that moose!

Our Savannah Office has Relocated!

Entrance to our new Savannah office location.

Attorney Will Claiborne in his new office.

We proudly announce that the Savannah office of Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. has relocated to a new office on East Bay Street. The Savannah office continues to offer high quality legal representation in the areas of Domestic Relations Litigation; Assisted Reproductive Technologies; Adoption; and Civil Litigation. The contact information for the new Savannah office is:

Claiborne & Surmay, P.C.
Attorney Will Claiborne
Paralegal Kimberly Griffin
410 East Bay Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Telephone: 912-236-9559
Facsimile: 912-236-1884

Conference Room.

We look forward to seeing you in our Savannah office in the very near future.

Breastfeeding after Adoption or Surrogacy

The Creating a Family website, operated by Dawn Davenport, is a wonderful resource on infertility, ART and adoption. Each week she blogs and facilitates a radio show. Past episodes are available on the website. This week's radio show is on Breastfeeding the Child Through Adoption or Surrogacy and it includes first hand accounts from parents who successfully breast-fed their children who were adopted or born through surrogacy. Check it out to find out more about this interesting topic.

Cute Kid Friday: Louisa, Myers and Graham

Big sister Louisa with twins Myers and Graham pose for a rare 3-kid photo. So cute!

Connecticut Ruling Gives Non-Genetic Intended Parents Legal Rights

The Connecticut Supreme Court recently ruled that a second parent adoption is not necessary to establish parental rights for the non-genetic intended parent of a child born through gestational surrogacy. The court indicated that a valid Gestational Agreement (contract), entered into prior to the pregnancy, is what is required in order for both parents to be considered the child's legal parents at the time of birth. This ruling is a step forward for gay couples in Connecticut, who otherwise would need to complete a second parent adoption for the non-genetic parent to be a legal parent of the child. Read an article about this case here.

Children's Books now Available on iPad, iTouch and iPod touch

Apple recently announced that children's picture books are now available on various "i" products through the iBooks application. Available books include the Olivia series, Disney classics, toddler books, and Fancy Nancy, among many others. To download the iBooks application, click here.

New Gender Neutral Passport Forms

Beginning January 6th, 2011 passport applications and citizenship forms for children of American parents born outside the U.S. will use the title "parent" instead of "mother" and "father", making it easier for gay and lesbian parents to apply for and obtain passports for their children. This is being done in an effort to recognize different types of U.S. families.

Adoption Video Series - Part 3: Home

This video, the third in a three part series (previous parts already posted) won the Adoptive Families Circle adoption video contest. Watch it and let us know what you think.

NY Times Article on Gay Parenting

The New York Times reported today that gay parenting is more common in the south, especially in states such as Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. This is census data rather than legal trends. Read the full article here.

Adoption Video Series - Part 2: The Arrival

Part 2 showcases the family's arrival back home including meeting the couple's older son:

Adoption Video Series - Part 1: The Day

Adoptive Families Circle recently held an adoption video contest. The winners submitted three wonderful short videos about adopting their daughter Violet who was born in Ethiopia. The first video in the series captures the day that parents Carrie and Fernando met Violet. The next two parts will be posted next week.

Cute Kid Friday Returns!

Myah, age 18 months.

Myah was born through gestational surrogacy, with her biological aunt serving as the gestational carrier. So adorable!

Great NYTimes Surrogacy Article

This thoughtful piece about gestational surrogacy was recently published in the NY Times. Read it and let us know what you think.

Book Signing This Saturday!

Rebecca Falco will be reading from and signing copies of her book, "Everything In Its Own Time: A mother's memoir about adopting five children, and the ones that got away" this Saturday, January 8, 2011 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Eagle Eye Book. For more information please click here.