Local Firm for Family Law
The Best Interest of a Child is Paramount A child’s best interest is not secondary to the 5th amendment rights of the child’s abuser. The Court of Civil appeals reaffirmed this in A.W. v. Jefferson County Department of Human Resources[1]. In A.W. …
A Child’s Best Interest Is Not Secondary To the Right of His AbuserRead More
What Does A Judge Need to Find a Child Dependent? A judgment adjudicating a child as dependent, known as dependency, must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. Furthermore, the evidence must show that the custodial parent is culpable for …
It's Adoption Day! We are so happy to invite you to share in the joy of the Barnes' family, in Meaghan's own words... "It’s Adoption Day! 🎀🩷 Today we are so incredibly grateful to finally rest in forever—as a family of four. Last June, we got …
She Was Only Supposed to be With our Family for 30 Days…Read More
In this series of short-form podcasts, Attorney Sam McLure brings answers to frequently asked questions from foster and adoptive parents. Please email any questions you have to marybeth@theadoptionfirm.com, and we may feature them in a future …
S3: E1 | FAQ Shorts: Timeline from Notice to Final HearingRead More
As a Caregiver for Your Grandchildren, Let’s start with a hypothetical. Ten years ago, your son, James, married Susan. They were happily married and had two children of the marriage, Johnny and Sally. You saw your grandchildren at least two times …
Does Abandonment Matter? Every law student is trained the same way. When you're asked a direct question, answer the question, then explain – if needed. So, I’ll try to represent my legal education well: Yes, abandonment matters in adoption. In …
Does Abandonment Make a Difference When You are Adopting?Read More
5 Tips for Foster Parent Advocacy For a printable copy of this article, click here. 1. Expect Mind-Boggling Push-Back. "Sally" came into your home right out of the hospital, after spending two weeks detoxing from methamphetamine, opiates, and …
5 Tips for Foster Parents in the Legal Fight for Their ChildRead More
Can Foster Parents Get Copies of Their Child's Medical History, Counseling Notes, or Psychological Report? This is an important question. Let's say a three year old child is placed in your home. According to the Foster Parent Bill of Rights, the …
Can Foster Parents Get Copies of Important Documents?Read More
Paid Parental Leave Act (2025) Adoption made easier. The Alabama K-12 Public School and State Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 went into effect on July 1, 2025.) This bill gave all state and public school employees paid parental time off for …
Adoption Benefits Revisited: Paid Time Off for Adoptive ParentsRead More
