Private Adoption in New York: When the Adoption Journey Takes a Litigious Turn

Originally held on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
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Program Chair:
Rebecca L. Mendel
Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC

  • This CLE program will first give an overview of New York laws regarding domestic private agency and independent adoption. Through the use of a detailed hypothetical, the panelists will discuss the considerations from the viewpoint of the adoptive parents’ attorney, the birth parent’s attorney, and an agency attorney, covering such topics as: best practices, what happens if a birth mother revokes her consent, if a birth father objects to the adoption, and other contested adoption scenarios.

    Program Fee:
    $119 for Members | $219 for Nonmembers

    Members who are Recent Law Graduates, Newly Admitted Lawyers (admitted for the first time in any state or country 2019-2021), In-House/Corporate Counsel, Judges, or attorneys that practice within the Government, Academic or Not-for-Profit sectors attend this program for free.

  • Kerry B. Mulvihill
    Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC

    Yekaterina (Kate) Trambitskaya
    Chief Executive Officer
    Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children

    Laurie B. Goldheim
    Law Offices of Laurie B. Goldheim

    1. Introductions and Overview
      1. Introductions — 6:00 pm – 6:05 pm
      2. Overview of Agency vs. Independent Adoption — 6:05 pm – 6:15 pm
    2. Hypothetical — 6:15 pm – 6:20 pm
      1. This Hypothetical will continue throughout the program, with additional facts, to help identify the legal issues. An attorney from an Agency, an attorney for adoptive parents and an attorney for birth/expectant parents will tackle the hypothetical with their clients’ interests in mind.
    3. Best Practices for Attorneys/Agencies Before Birth of Child — 6:20 pm – 6:45 pm
      1. Agency Attorney Perspective
      2. Adoptive Parent Attorney Perspective
      3. Expectant Parent Attorney Perspective
    4. Birth Mother Revocation of Surrender/Consent — 6:45 pm – 7:10 pm
      1. Agency Attorney Perspective
      2. Adoptive Parent Attorney Perspective
      3. Birth Parent Attorney Perspective
    5. Birth Father Objection/Revocation — 7:10 pm – 7:35 pm
      1. Agency Attorney Perspective
      2. Adoptive Parent Attorney Perspective
      3. Birth Parent Attorney Perspective
    6. Other Possible Litigious Scenarios — 7:35 pm – 7:45 pm
      1. Enforceable Post Adoption Contact Agreements
      2. Step/Second-Parent Adoptions
    7. Q&A — 7:45 pm – 8:00 pm

  • New York: 2.0 Skills
    New Jersey: 2.3 General
    California: 1.5 General
    Pennsylvania: 1.5 General
    Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

    Please Note: Newly admitted NY attorneys cannot fulfill ethics or skills credits through our on-demand programs under OCA rules. For more information on this, please see http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/changes_for_2016.shtml.

  • Sponsoring Association Committee:
    Small Law Firms, Anne Wolfson, Chair

    Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
    Angie Avila, Manager, Membership Outreach and Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | aavila@nycbar.org

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