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.