Archives for August 2016

New Jersey Expands Safe Haven Law

Several months ago a Bill was signed into law expanding the New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act to now include as locations for placement of infants, fire stations and emergency squads as safe havens for parents to give up their newborns. This expands the locations which previously had been limited basically to police stations and hospitals.

Although this law is in effect, for the benefit of the birth parents and for the children, placing a child through a licensed agency is preferable as it will allow all parties to have more information and certainly would be in the best interest of the child.

International Adoptions Decrease

 

According to statistics from the U.S. State Department, the number of children adopted into the United States has dropped dramatically in the last decade. Sources say that there were just under 6,500 international adoptions in 2014, down from the peak of around 23,000 in 2004. Families seeking to adopt are also finding that it’s taking a lot longer to complete an adoption. In 2000, the average time it took to complete an adoption in China was about nine months. Some couples are now waiting nearly nine years to do the same thing. Sources say it’s the lowest rate for international adoptions since 1982.

One of the major reasons for the decline was the decision by Russia to discontinue any adoptions by Americans. Before 2012, the country was one of the major sources for families seeking to adopt internationally. China is still the most popular place for adoptive families to go, with more than 2,000 children adopted from China every year. Just a decade ago, though, there were almost 8,000 children adopted from China. Ethiopia is now second in the number of children adopted into the United States, with the Ukraine and Haiti third and fourth, respectively.

State officials say that one of the challenges to the international adoption process has been the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. When the convention was introduced, it was hoped that it would facilitate international adoption by eliminating concerns about human trafficking. As it’s turned out in practice, it’s actually made international adoptions more challenging by requiring a lot more paperwork and obstacles.

Contact Us

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

Improving Your Chances for a Successful Single-Parent Adoption

Though it’s far easier in today’s world to adopt as a single parent than it was 50 year ago (you couldn’t do it then), it’s still not a simple process. Many agencies will simply not work with you and others will give priority to couples seeking to adopt. Here are some tips from single parents who have successfully adopted.

Prepare Financially

Parent and ChildOne of the significant concerns from adoption professionals is the fact that single parents typically have only one source of income. If that income goes away—a job is lost or the parent cannot work—the child may not have his or her material needs met. Accordingly, you want to prepare in advance. Try to get 3-6 months worth of expenses into savings, so that you have something to meet your needs in the event of a temporary job loss. Determine how much time you will need to take off from work when your adopted child first comes home with you, and put money away to cover that time period.

Build a Network of Support

Raising a child is hard work and can wear you out emotionally and physically. When there are two parents, it’s much easier to get a break. If you are a single parent, you’ll want to find family and friends who can offer you the same type of respite on an occasional basis. Otherwise, you may develop some resentment that your child has left you no time for yourself.

Be Prepared for the Social Stigma Associated with Single Parenting

Though the acceptance of divorce has made single parenting more prevalent, there’s still a common perception that there must be two parents in the home to raise a well-adjusted and emotionally healthy child. To get a different perspective, look for single parent groups in your area, or get to know other single parents, so that you can share successes and failures together, and see that you are not alone.

Contact Our Office

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

Contact Us

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