Introduction

Hi Linda. Thank you so very much for replying so quickly to my post. It was kindof refreshing to hear you say that you have dealt with similar situations. I was 17 when my daughter was born and adopted and I think that I during that time, I was in a state of shock and confusion when trying to figure out if adoption was the best thing for her. I went to a Christian pregnancy center down in south Georgia and they referred my parents and I to an attorney who could handle the adoption. His name was James Robbins located in Rome, Ga. I know that I went to see him and I am not sure if it was more than once. I think that I do remember him coming into the hospital and having me sign the papers to relinguish my daughter. I feel that he was representing me but I am not sure if he also was representing the adoptive parents also. I did not receive an agreement that they would send me pictures. I just wrote the attorney during that first year and asked if he would locate them to see if they would send me some. They did send a few but then no more. And then several years later when I sent my letter through the attorney, he said that he had found them but they had moved several times and that they did not feel comfortable sending any more. I appreciate your advice and help in this matter. I only want to locate them and find out if she is ok. I do not want to interrupt her life. Thank you again.

Hello, Attorney Linda Lach , I want to no is it hard to Adopt back you own child?and what can you do if you go thew the mapp class and background check and everthing comes back ok but I have mistermeaners from the past how can this stop me Ive look for a lawer 3 years ago and find one he said I had a good case to get her back but I waited for him to long so I call the adoption agence and got in mapp Classes In Sep 2003 got done in Nov2003 but iam still waiting do u think this will stop me? what if i go get them expunged? If they tell me thats what its for do you think they will wait for me to do that? Thank You very much.

I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you - there's too much information I don't have, and you really need to speak to an attorney or Legal Aid where you live and/or where the adoption took place. Good luck.

Can you please tell me if it is ever possible to have a child (year old) moved from one region that is not exactly IA friendly, to another region? We're talking about a child who was given up "freely" at birth. Thanks!

Maybe one of you out there can help me. My boss has adopted two beautiful kids from the county. This was the quickest adoption I've seen. Not too long ago, they got a call, that those two kids same birth mother had another little boy and wanted to know if they would take him. They gladly did. Now they are having to fight the system b/c the birth father wants the baby. This was not a baby that the birth mom gave away, but as she became pregnant, the state has already established she is an unfit mother and took the baby. she still "lives" with the last babies dad. According to the law, she cannot be under the same roof as this child. The court date keeps getting put off b/c they are waiting for the father to go to his court date for a crime he committed. They don't know what the sentencing will be for him so depending on the turn out from that, my boss and his wife will know more on their adoption. They are really devastated. The kids are beautiful and they love them so very much, i've never seen anyone love kids more than these two. Believe me i know b/c i have lots of nieces and nephews. Anyway, isn't there some clause or specific wording in the California law that can protect these children from going into such a disturbed home? I would appreciate as much information as possible. Thank you

Linda Lach: I realize that there are a lot of women that give their child up for adoption and it may be unfair circumstances and then the mother wants the child back What I want to know is about the cases where it actually has happened and how!!! How does one prove the adoptive parents are abusive or neglectful and the birthmother is actually in the child's best intrest..... This case is terribly complex because the adoptive parents are my mother and stepfather!!! My mother is bi polar and I was raised with extreem mood swings so I did not learn to express myself in a healthy way until I was 22 or so... Now during the adoption process her lawyer and her brainwashed me into things that were not true such as it was too late after I signed the papers and it was not after all.. My son is 6 years old and has an eating disorder which he would never have if he lived with me and she spanks him and yells at him and he is learning all those things that I grew up in and it scares me... On top of it all she is now telling me she is going to raise him to learn what a ***** I am and that I tried to kill him and all this other bologna... I do not know what to do my child is going to be scared and posibly mentally ill because of her. Recently I just found out how truely sick my mother is by hearing stories from my father and Uncle about her past and I am truely concerned for my son and my other siblings.. What if I located his father does anyone know if that would help or hurt me??? He has not had any contact for nearly seven years so his rights would be legally terminated correct?? Thanks for any help..

Hi my name is Nancy ....my question is this my daughter has lived with her grandparents for 1 year now they have custody of her this was not a contested case she wanted to live with them,now they are wanting to adopt her,her grandpa says its where he get help with her..he draws disability anyway this is something i'm not comfortable about doing, i love my daughter i just can't do anything with her i talk to her daily and keep her every other weekend if i sighned these papers will i lose my visitation

I am not Linda but I do want to tell you from my own experience...Unless you expressly state that you want an open adoption and visitation rights and name what those are e.g.every weekend...They are not respnsible to ask for this only the birth mother, and you will get nothing so prepare to ask lots of question and state exactly what you want out of this, but can I just plead with you for a moment.. don't do this. I promise you will regret it for the rest of your life...Unless you are mentally ill or addicted to drugs please just go see a counselor and vow to yourself to get your life straight so you can raise your daughter because THAT IS YOUR KID NOT THEIRS!! DO this FOR you and most of all FOR HER!! Any more questions about my experience just email me at mouser@uwyo.edu.

Aloha. I only practice in Hawaii, and so don't know the law where you are, but if your child is adopted, by anyone, family or not (in my state), you do not have any right to visitation or anything else. They become the parents, and legally you become a stranger. You said you are not comfortable with it - in my experience, you shouldn't do it, if you're not. Her grandfather may increase his income by adding a legal dependent, but that may not be reason enough for you to give up your parental rights. If it were me, I'd give it time - if it seems like a better idea later, you can still do it. But don't be talked into it just because he wants the income. He's going to take care of her anyway. LL

This is not a high priority post. I am picking your brain here. What is your opinion on anonymous "safe haven" laws: (1) do you believe they are constitutional (esp. re due process, equal protection, and separation of powers)? (2) if not, do you believe that anonymous relinquishment threatens a public right in any way (as opposed to threatening the rights of the persons involved)

Ms. Lach, Hawaii, eh? Tough place to live - but I guess someone has to live there!! How lucky you must be!! I am new to this "forum" stuff. Please read more about my case at: Foster Parent Support Forum, "Indiana FP's need HELP - TPR gone bad." What can I do? I live in Indiana. Can we file for a contested adoption? I have been told by one attorney - no. I have been told by another attorney - yes, if the bps have not paid support for one year since their release from jail. This won't be until later this summer and the next hearing will be early June. At this hearing, the Judge will decide when to send our fs back to his bps. Please help us fight for our son. I have looked up Indiana Codes: 31-34-21; 31-19-10; and 35-48-4. These are just too confusing for me to figure out. What would we have to prove if we filed for a contested adoption? Do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks so much for your time. Christina

Hi! My family is waiting for a referral from Korea. My husband is scheduled to be out to sea when the referral is likely to come. Is it possible to have a power of attorney for me to sign the referral paperwork from Korea?

Hello Nancy, do you work with families in Maryland who are looking to adopt?

Hi, Linda!:)I wonder how much effect my occupation will have on any adoption attempt. I'm a truck driver. I have been advised due to my single marital status, it may make it pose some difficulties. My question to you is if the fact that my own mother and I still share a household will help my case.

Linda, I don't know if you can offer any help...the situation is rather complicated...but perhaps some insight would be beneficial. I am a teacher/counselor within the Michigan prison system. I currently have a client who has been notified that his parental rights to his 5 year old son (who is in foster care in North Carolina) are in the process of being terminated. He has received a letter and a copy of the court document from the caseworker and the court papers indicated the presence of everybody involved...except an attorney representing him. He is married to the child's mother and it appears that there was originally a reunification plan in place and was abandoned due to her assaulting a caseworker as well as not meeting requirements, ie, job, substance abuse counseling, etc. All of this is complicated for the client due to a lack of financial resources, a short court date (June 30th), out of State court proceedings, lack of representation and the list goes on. What rights does my client have? He recognizes his responsibility in the situation....and I'm not so sure that he won't consent to allowing his son to be adopted by his foster parents...but he desires some input in the process and would prefer some degree of openess if that's the decision. Does an incarcerated parent have fewer rights to representation and input? What are the recourses available to him? Thank you for your consideration. Diane