“We were sure we'd say the wrong thing at the home study. Rebekah had told us what the visit would cover, and it went the way she said it would.”
Marnie and Dallin T.Adoptive parents
Adoption and surrogacy law in Provo
Start with the worry you can't put down.
Adoption, stepparent adoption and surrogacy all raise questions nobody prepares you for. I answer them in plain words, one family at a time, from the first call to the day the order is signed.
Before anything else
The worries we hear first
Every family arrives with a few of these. Each has an honest answer, and most depend on the kind of adoption, the rules where you live and the facts of your case.
What if the birth parent changes their mind?
Consent, and the time left to take it back, are set by law and differ from place to place. Before you commit to a match I explain when consent can be given and when it becomes final.
Read about adoptionWhat will the home study ask about our home?
A social worker visits, asks about your history and writes a report. I tell you what the visit covers and help you gather the papers, so none of it is a surprise.
See the home study stepsWhat if my child's other parent won't sign?
A stepparent adoption usually needs that parent's consent, or a judge's finding that it isn't required. I explain which path your facts point to.
Read about stepparent adoptionWhose names go on the birth certificate?
With a surrogate, parentage is settled by an agreement and a court order, often before the birth. I draft and file the papers so the right names are there from the start.
Read about surrogacyWhat if the baby is born in another state?
Two states' rules can apply at once. I check both before you travel, and tell you plainly when a lawyer there needs to join us.
See how it worksWhat will all of this cost?
My fee is quoted in writing before you sign. Court, home study, agency and medical costs go to other people, and I list the ones I expect.
See what each side costs
The first call
A first call that starts with listening
Most families call before they have a match, a surrogate or a plan, and that's a good time. I ask where things stand, explain how the process works for a family like yours, and say plainly whether I'm the right lawyer.
If what you need is an agency, a clinic or a lawyer in another state, I'll tell you that too.
You tell it in your own order
I explain each step, its cost and its timing
You leave knowing what to do next, with or without me
Ways I help
Three kinds of family I work with
I take on these and send the rest to colleagues who do them every day, including international adoption.
Adoption
Adoption by a family, a relative or a foster parent: the home study, consents, placement and the finalization hearing.
Adoption
Stepparent adoption
Making a stepchild your legal child: consents, notice to the other parent and a short court hearing.
Stepparent adoption
Surrogacy and parentage
Agreements with a surrogate or a donor, and the court orders that name you as the parents.
Surrogacy and parentage
From families
What they remember
“I'd been his dad for six years. Hearing the judge make it official, I understood why the paperwork mattered to him as much as to me.”
Jarom R.Stepfather
“She read our surrogacy agreement line by line and told us which parts were ordinary and which were worth asking about.”
Kendra and Brinley L.Intended parents
Each family's case is different. What happened for one family doesn't predict the outcome of yours.
Quick answers
What families wonder before calling
Do you find birth parents, surrogates or children for us?
No. I'm a lawyer, not an agency, and I don't match or place anyone. I can explain how agencies and clinics work, suggest what to ask them, and handle the legal side once you've chosen.
Can you help if we're unmarried, single or a same-sex couple?
Yes. I work with married and unmarried couples, single parents and same-sex couples. Who may adopt or be named a parent depends on the state, so I check the rules against your facts before we begin.
How long will it take?
It depends on the kind of adoption, the court's calendar and how quickly the paperwork comes together. At our first call I give you a realistic range for your situation, not a promise.
What do you charge?
I quote my fee in writing before you sign anything. Court fees, home study fees, agency fees and medical costs are paid to others and are separate; I list the ones I expect.
Do I have to come to Provo?
Most meetings can be by phone or video. Hearings are usually short, and I'll tell you whether the court expects you in person.
Tell me what you're worried about
Write or call. I read every note myself, and we'll find a time to talk that suits you.
Please don't send confidential details through the form.