Adoption Attorney Los Angeles

Lawyers for adoption at The Reape Rickett Law Firm established its Family Formation practice area in response to its community’s growing need for counsel and representation throughout the process. Many couples and individuals have found themselves building families through adoption as well as through the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (“ART”). ART, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, includes all fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled. Our adoption attorneys in Los Angeles are reached out by clients from around the city, including married couples as well as individuals, gay or straight, step-parents, surrogates, co-parents and grandparents.

California has led the charge to establish legal parameters for ART practices in general and is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the country for Intended Parents (“IP(s)”). This cultural and legal climate exists because California courts have consistently ruled that Intended Parents utilizing ART are viewed as the child’s legal parents, regardless of any other genetic connection. As an added benefit to Intended Parents in California, IPs here may obtain a pre-birth order, which can be applied for and granted during the third trimester. This order enables IPs to have their names only on the child’s original birth certificate, minimizing custody issues.

Our adoption lawyers in Los Angeles represent the donor and/or the Intended Parent(s) in drafting and/or reviewing the donor agreement. Well-drafted agreements and preventive legal protections should reassure Intended Parents, donors, and surrogates that children born vis-a-vis surrogacy, egg or sperm donation will be free from legal conflict.

Family Adoption Lawyers Helping Clients Through Different Phases Of Adoption

Helping you complete your picture-perfect family is our main goal. Our child adoption lawyer assists clients through all phases of the adoption process. These phases include:

Egg Donation
Egg donation is used to assist Intended Parents by enabling a fertile female to provide one or more eggs. The donor’s eggs will then be fertilized and the embryo will be implanted into the Intended Parent through the process of in vitro fertilization (“IVF”). An egg donor may be identified or anonymous.

Sperm Donation
Sperm donation is used to assist Intended Parents by enabling a fertile male to provide sperm. The donor sperm will then be used to impregnate a woman through artificial insemination or IVF. A sperm donor may be identified or anonymous.

Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy utilizes IVF to transfer embryos to a surrogate, who then carries the child to term. In this scenario, embryos are created by either the Intended Parents, donors, or a combination of the two. Traditional surrogacy involves the process of artificial insemination, where the sperm, provided either by the IP or a donor, is used to fertilize the egg inside the surrogate’s womb. With traditional surrogacy, the surrogate maintains a genetic link to the child.

Work With Our Los Angeles Adoption Lawyer

Looking to adopt a child? Our leading adoption law firm can keep you well-informed and help you prepare for the entire adoption process. From getting consent to representing you in court, we’ll make sure you don’t miss out on any procedural requirements. So, get in touch by calling us at (888) 851-1611 or emailing the firm.