Posted by: euser
January 12, 2011
Topic: Adoption

While I worked for state government, my favorite task was preparing adoptions for hearing. For two years, I had the pleasure of handling the paperwork for all the adoptions that came through Kentucky's 12^th State Judicial Circuit. The joy I felt in seeing new families form, or existing families become legally one through stepparent adoption, was unparalleled. Recently, when I saw an article about an adoption scam in New York in a legal newspaper, I was appalled.

Last month, The National Law Journal reported that a New York attorney was sentenced to a prison term of 10 to 20 years after being convicted of stealing more than $300,000.00 from families who were expecting his help in arranging the adoptions of children who actually did not exist. A jury found Kevin Cohen of Roslyn, NY guilty of 37 counts that included second and third degree grand larceny. Cohen used fake sonograms and nonexistent birth mothers to convince 13 families he could help them with adoptions.

To prevent this kind of heartbreak, individuals considering adoption should be aware of the relationship the State plays in adoptions, and seek the help of a highly qualified family attorney. In Kentucky, the Department for Community Based Services is the primary adoption agency. DCBS places hundreds of children and youth for adoption each year. Most of these children were removed from their birth parents by court order for a variety of reasons. DCBS is involved in adoption placements even when the placement is through a private agency or individual. The department receives and processes copies of the adoption application or petition, and issues Foreign Adoption Certificate of Registration in cases of international adoption. You can learn more about DCBS here:

http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dpp/adoptionservices.htm

If you are beginning the adoption process, consider contacting us. Use the "Contact Us" link above, or fill out the form on our homepage. We can help you through the process, which can be tedious. We'll also work to protect you from potential legal pitfalls along the way. In addition to making sure you meet legal requirements to become an adoptive parent, we can advise you with regard to the specific rules concerning adoptions. For example, state law prohibits one attorney from representing both the birth parents and adoptive parents in an adoption proceeding. Also, no adoptive parent, proposed adoptive parent, agency, or intermediary can pay the attorney's fees of a biological parent for any purpose related to an adoption except as approved by the court.

Adoptions are a very specific process. Trust such an important decision to professionals dedicated to family law like Louis and me. We only practice family law so that we can give the highest possible level of care and commitment to our cases. -Stacy Anne Hoehle

Shocking Story of Adoption Fraud

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