In an open adoption, everyone involved in the process knows the identity and location of everyone else. A birthmother will have regular communication with adoptive parents before the adoption and this can typically continue after the placement, in the form of letters, birthday cards, e-mails, telephone calls and visitation. An open adoption can provide both […]

For centuries, adoption was something that wasn’t discussed outside courtrooms and adoption agencies. Birth parents and adoptive parents never met, did not know each other’s identities, and had no ongoing relationship. With the concept of open adoption, all that has changed. It’s not necessarily the best option for everyone, but here are the potential advantages […]

Pennsylvania Woman Loses Surrogacy Contract Appeal A Pennsylvania woman who entered into a gestational surrogacy agreement with her then-husband and a gestational surrogate has been declared to be the legal mother of the child. The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the ruling of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in mid-November, ruling against actress and […]

You know that you want to adopt a child. Your next decision—should you adopt domestically (within the United States) or internationally. Here are some of the key issues to consider. The Cost Cost used to be much more of a consideration when deciding whether to adopt in the United States or through a foreign country, […]

More State Legislatures Looking at Surrogacy Laws New York and Washington, DC are two of just a few states that outlaw commercial surrogacy and are considering new legislation that would allow women and couples to pay a third party to carry a child for them. In Washington, DC, Councilmember Charles Allen introduced the Collaborative Reproduction […]

When you adopt a child, you hope that the life you give that child will be as normal as possible. For some adoptive parents, talking to your adopted child about their being adopted can jeopardize that sense of normality, but experts say it’s essential for the well-being of your child. Chances are pretty good that […]

New Jersey Adoption Rates Stabilizing Adoption officials in New Jersey say there is cause for optimism, based on statistics gathered by the non-profit agency Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ). Though the number of children reported as adopted in the state actually decreased from 2012 to 2013, Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of ACNJ, said […]

Telling Your Child that He or She is Adopted At some point, your child may look in the mirror and conclude that he/she doesn’t look anything like you or your spouse, and come to you with the question “why”? If that happens, you have waited too long to disclose to them that they are adopted. […]

Dispelling Common Myths about Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawsuits For years, medical professionals and their insurers have argued that medical malpractice lawsuits have necessitated an increase in medical malpractice insurance premiums, with a corresponding increase in the cost of medical care. Studies have consistently shown, however, that those assertions are simply without factual support. Here are […]

Women Gets Settlement from Dunkin Donuts for Fall in Parking Lot A New Jersey woman settled a lawsuit against fast-food franchise Dunkin Donuts earlier this fall, agreeing to accept $522,000 after she suffered an injury at a store in Highland Park, New Jersey. Maria Marsala, the plaintiff, alleged that she tripped over a spike in […]