Local Firm for Family Law
The Gift of Belonging: Navigating a Step-Parent Adoption Step-Parent Adoption ... even the thought of "poking the bear" can be terrifying. Most folks are simply glad for the oasis of normalcy and stability of just being under the same …
Navigating a Step-Parent Adoption: The Gift of BelongingRead More
In A.B. v. A.A. and L.D.A. the mother of a minor child, A.B., appealed an order by the Russell Juvenile Court awarding custody to the child’s aunt, A.A., and uncle, L.D.A. On December 4th of 2019 the aunt and uncle filed a dependency petition seeking …
Due Process and International Visitation Rights: A.B. v. A.A. and L.D.A.Read More
J.R.C. v. Mobile County Department of Human Resources, No. 2190975, slip op. (Ala. Civ. App. June 18, 2021). The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals recently considered a juvenile court’s jurisdiction to terminate the parental rights of an alleged …
Determining Fathers in Termination of Parental RightsRead More
Attorney Sarah Copeland graduated from Liberty University School of Law in May of 2021. After taking the Alabama Bar, Attorney Copeland immediately went to work helping families navigate the complex waters of adoption. Just two days after receiving …
Attorney Sarah Copeland Finalizes First Adoption with Talladega Forever FamilyRead More
Most folks in the Southeast know Highway 231 as a long series of pit-stops on the way to the beach. Some folks might even delight in seeing the occasional mom-and-pop fruit stand. Still few people know it as a thriving community for International …
International and Domestic Adoption Thrive in South AlabamaRead More
What can be done to terminate parental rights when the identity of the father is uncertain? According to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, the identity of the father should be determined first, before a trial court moves forward with …
If an administrative agency has made a decision that adversely affects you, you have options. Here’s one path to take. What can you do if an Alabama administrative agency issues a decision that you feel is wrong and affects you negatively? For …
State agencies often have broad authority, but persons adversely affected by agency decisions may seek go to the courts, who then are free to decide the issue in accord with their own judgment of the law. In Ex parte Alabama Medicaid Agency, No. …
Finding Relief in Legal Matters with State AgenciesRead More
There are ways a party can receive review by the appellate court before a final judgment, but those circumstances are rare. Court cases are long. Proceedings can take months or years. Courts make many small decisions before entering a final …
Can an Appeal be Heard Before a Final Judgment in a Court Proceeding?Read More
