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.