Adoption is an emotional process for all the parties involved. Are you prepared to assist and guide your clients through this highly emotional time in their lives? Whether you represent the birth parents or the adoptive parents, our experienced practitioners will update you on the latest adoption laws, help you understand various procedures and requirements and give you the background you need to handle adoption cases without unnecessary delays, ethical problems or surprises. Order today!

1. The Essentials of Adoption Law
2. Offering the Different Adoption Options
3. Procedures for Terminating Parental Rights
4. Overcoming Interstate Adoption Issues
5. Solving Obstacles to International Adoptions
6. Following Ethical Guidelines in Adoption Law
7. Practical Guide Through the Adoption Process
8. What to Do if Something Goes Wrong

1. THE ESSENTIALS OF ADOPTION LAW
   9:00 - 9:45, H. Keith Morrison and Kaye H. McLeod
1. Understanding the Definitions: Who May be Adopted
2. Who May Adopt: Criteria and Qualifications
3. Obtaining Adoption Assistance
4. Helping Calculate Adoption Tax Credits
5. Adhering to Federal Laws Affecting Adoptions
1. Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997
2. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
3. Indian Child Welfare Act
4. Howard Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994
2. OFFERING THE DIFFERENT ADOPTION OPTIONS
   9:45 - 10:20, H. Keith Morrison
1. What are Private Placement Adoptions?
2. How Agency Adoptions Work
3. Venue: Why it's so Important
4. The Crucial Element of Consent
5. Exploring Other Adoption Alternatives
1. When and How to Use Independent Options
2. Circumstances When it's Appropriate to Adopt an Adult
3. Guidelines for Adopting Relatives
6. Understanding Step Parent Adoptions
7. Examining and Ensuring Foster Parent Rights
3. PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATING PARENTAL RIGHTS
   10:35 - 11:10, H. Keith Morrison
1. General Requirements That Need to be Considered
2. Obtaining Confirmed Consent and Surrender of Birth Parents
3. Properly Dealing With Notice Requirements
4. Observing Guidelines Governing Involuntary Termination
5. Where Complaints May be Filed
6. Issues Handled by State Common Pleas Courts
7. When Default Proceedings May Move Forward
4. OVERCOMING INTERSTATE ADOPTION ISSUES
   11:10 - 11:45, H. Keith Morrison and Kaye H. McLeod
1. What is the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)?
2. Dealing With Conflicts Between State Laws
3. Navigating Multistate Adoption Procedures
5. SOLVING OBSTACLES TO INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
   11:45 - 12:30, H. Keith Morrison
1. Making Clients Aware of Risks and Realities
2. Locating a Child to be Adopted: A How-to Guide
3. Dealing With U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
4. Adhering to State Laws Regarding Intercountry Adoptions
5. Recognizing Legal Requirements of the Foreign Country Involved
6. Crucial Steps Involving Birth Certificates and Citizenship
7. Taking All the Right Steps for Finalization
8. Practical Tips for Families Considering International Adoption
6. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   1:30 - 2:30, H. Keith Morrison
1. Identifying Conflicts of Interest
2. Confidentiality in Adoption Cases
3. Guidelines for Setting Fair Attorney Fees
4. Observing the Rules of Professional Conduct
7. PRACTICAL GUIDE THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROCESS
   2:45 - 3:45, H. Keith Morrison
1. Preparation of Pre- and Post-Placement Reports
2. The Interrelated Roles of Social Worker and Attorney
3. Determining Fees and Expenses
4. How to Conduct a Thorough Background Check
5. The Adoption Home Study: A Look Into the Reality
6. Working With Birth Parents: What You Need to Do
7. State and Local Services Available to All Parties Involved
8. Medical Care and Insurance Coverage for Birth Mother and Child
9. Responsibilities of the Guardian Ad Litem
10. Unique Considerations When Adopting Special Needs Children
8. WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
   3:45 - 4:30, H. Keith Morrison
1. Rights of the Biological Parents vs. Adoptive Parents: Who Takes Precedence?
2. Proving a Parent is Unfit in Contested Adoptions
3. Tackling Third-Party Challenges
4. Procedures for Dissolution of Adoption
5. Withdrawal of Consent? What to do Next
6. Correctly Handling an Appeal of the Adoption Decree

KAYE H. McLEOD is a sole practitioner in Little Rock where she concentrates her practice on adoption and assisted reproduction (surrogacy) law. She received her B.A. degree from Centenary College, Louisiana, and her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. She wrote the current section on adoption law in the Arkansas Bar Association's Domestic Relations Handbook and is a frequent lecturer on independent adoption. Ms. McLeod is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, as well as a founding member of the Arkansas Adoption Association and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, where she previously served on the Board of Trustees. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute honored Ms. McLeod by selecting her to receive an award as an "Angel" in the Angels in Adoption Campaign in 2002.

H. KEITH MORRISON is a partner at the law firm of Wilson & Associates, P.L.L.C., where he practices in the areas of foreclosure litigation, commercial litigation and adoption. He frequently lectures on foreclosure and is a member of the American, Arkansas, Tennessee and Washington County bar associations, and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Mr. Morrison practices in both Arkansas and Tennessee. He earned his B.A. degree from Hendrix College and his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University.

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