Family Formation Law Firm in California

Law Offices of David H. Baum, PLC

1227 S. Ridgeley Drive Los Angeles, California 90019 USA

 (818) 501-8355 or (800) 795-2367

www.adoptlaw.com/
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Law Firm Overview

The Law Offices of David H. Baum, APLC has been in existence for more than thirty one years, providing top quality adoption legal services to birth mothers, birth fathers and adoptive parents.

Adoption laws are experiencing significant change throughout the United States, and particularly in California. The California legislature and state courts continue to enact, construe, and modify child adoption laws. Every decision made by the legislative and judicial party affects everyone involved in the adoption process, including birth parents, adoptive families, adoption agencies, and adoption law firms. Selecting the right adoption attorney is more critical than ever for a successful confidential independent adoption.

It takes a courageous woman to form an adoption plan and to place her baby up for adoption. It takes secure and loving families to adopt babies and make a legal, safe adoption plan for their family. Whether it is independent adoption, agency adoption, stepparent adoption, second parent adoption or adult adoption, it is a major legal process and you need the most qualified adoption lawyer to help guide you throughout the course. When you want to adopt a newborn or want to find a family for your baby adoption or infant adoption plan, I am here to assist you.

I have served 15 terms as President of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, and 7 terms as President of the Academy of California President Formation Lawyers. I have been a fellow member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys for 18 years and named an "Angel in Adoption" by the United States Congress's Coalition on Adoption Institute in 2004.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Independent Adoptions; Agency Adoptions; Collaborative Adoptions; Assisted Reproduction Technology; Adult Adoptions; Stepparent Adoptions; Gestational & Traditional Surrogacy; Guardianships

Practice Areas Description

- Independent Adoptions

In the state of California, a birth parent may meet with and choose the adoptive parents for the baby through an independent adoption. Typically the adoptive parents take the baby home when he or she is ready to leave the hospital. However, sometimes birth mothers decide to place their babies with adoption agencies. Use caution though because the baby could be put in foster care for a period of time, or there may be delays in placing the baby with an adoptive couple due to unfinished agency paperwork. In some cases, the birth mother who places her baby with an adoption agency may not ever know the identity of the adopting parents.

- Agency Adoptions

Every adoption involves an intense investigation of the adoptive couple by either a state or a licensed agency. Couples are required to provide fingerprints, detailed financial, social, and employment histories, copies of tax returns, reports of medical examinations, and letters of reference. Their home must be inspected and criminal records and child abuse records are checked before they may be approved for adoption. I have never had an adoptive couple from my practice receive anything other than a favorable recommendation on the issued report to the Court. Our office will not represent people who, based upon their background, are not likely to be approved. We make sure your child is placed in a positive home with a loving family.

- Collaborative Adoptions

We handle collaborative placements which combine the best aspects of Independent and Agency adoptions, often without the problems of traditional Agency adoptions. We represent birth mothers and adoptive couples throughout the United States. I am available to my clients any hour of the day, any day of the week. My clients are provided with my personal pager number and home telephone number. Clients can also reach me by electronic mail and through my office voice mail system after hours. When you need to speak with me, I am there for you. Your telephone calls, written correspondence, and e-mails will be quickly returned and your questions will be answered.

- Adult Adoptions

As our office has seen from experience, there are instances where adults choose to adopt other adults who are not otherwise related to them. The adoption petition must include a brief statement of the purpose behind the adult adoption and will be examined by the court. There are many appropriate and acceptable explanations for filing an adult adoption petition. If you would like to pursue an adult adoption, we can help.

- Stepparent Adoptions

In the typical stepparent adoption case, the stepparent wants to adopt his or her spouse’s child born in a previous relationship or marriage. We specialize in representing the petitioning stepparent in his or her effort to become the legal father or mother of the stepchild.

- Assisted Reproduction Technology

Our office will provide you with assistance in producing your family through various forms of Assisted Reproduction Technology (“ART”). We can and will arrange, discuss, and assess traditional and gestational surrogacy contracts, egg donation agreements, sperm donation agreements and even embryo donation contracts. Our law firm represents intended parents, surrogates, donors and recipients with the highest ethical standards of the legal profession. Upon your request, we can also provide you with referrals to medical, psychological and other related experts in the ART field.

- Traditional Surrogacy

Through artificial insemination, the surrogate mother uses her own eggs but carries the sperm from the biological (intended) father. The negative aspect of this process is the genetic link between the surrogate and the baby. The surrogate may become attached, being the baby is half genetically hers. Rarely are custody cases ever filed for this reason. To ensure this does not happen to your family, our Law Firm works hard to prevent this occurrence from the very beginning of the surrogacy process.

- Gestational Surrogacy

Through In Vitro Fertilization, the surrogate mother carries an embryo that contains the egg of the biological (intended) mother and the sperm of the biological (intended) father. If the intended mother cannot provide healthy eggs for fertilization, an egg donor may be found to provide the egg for this process. Similarly, if the intended father cannot provide quality sperm, then a sperm donor may be found to provide the sperm. The embryo is implanted into the surrogate who carries the fetus to term. The greatest aspect of surrogacy is that in most instances, the genetic and medical history of the baby born from that embryo is known to the intended parents. Because the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby born, she has no legal right to the child.

- Guardianships

Our office is hired to start off this legal procedure by preparing the Petition for Appointment of Guardian and filing related paperwork. Once the paperwork is completed and signed by the proposed guardians and submitted to the court, a Court Investigator is appointed by the judge to interview the petitioners (you), the child if he or she is of an appropriate age, and his or her mother and/or father if they are available. The investigator will make recommendations to the judge in a “Probate Investigator’s Report” which the Court will analyze upon ruling on your petition. A court date will be scheduled and the judge will decide if your petition should be granted and if so under what terms and conditions. The court hearing on the petition is usually quite brief. In order to approve your petition the Court must make a legal determination that the minor’s best interests will be served by the appointment of a guardian.

- Probate

As part of the adoption process, there is a required visit to Probate court. This law office specializes in your important final steps of adoption.

More Information on Law Offices of David H. Baum, PLC

Adoptions Law Attorney in Los Angeles, California
Agency Adoptions Attorney in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California Assisted Reproduction Lawyer
Adult Adoptions Law Firm in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California Stepparrent Adoptions Attorney
Gestational Surrogacy Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, California Traditional Surrogacy Lawyer
Guardianships Law Attorney in Los Angeles, California
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