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. Legislative and Case Law Update
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
8. What to Do if Something Goes Wrong

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. LEGISLATIVE AND CASE LAW UPDATE
   9:00 - 9:30, Timothy P. Murphy
1. Statutes, Regulations and Forms You Should be Aware of
2. Recent Legislation
3. Recent Case Law Developments
4. Useful Resources
2. OFFERING THE DIFFERENT ADOPTION OPTIONS
   9:30 - 10:15, Timothy P. Murphy
1. Introduction
2. Independent Adoptions
3. Agency Adoptions
4. Inter-Country Adoptions
5. Stepparent Adoptions
6. Adult Adoptions
7. Post Adoption Agreements
8. Adoptions by Relative Caregivers of Foster Parents
9. Second Parent Adoption
3. PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATING PARENTAL RIGHTS
   10:30 - 11:30, M. Jane Pearce
1. Consent and Relinquishment of Birth Parents
2. Notice Requirements
3. Involuntary Termination Issues
4. OVERCOMING INTERSTATE ADOPTION ISSUES
   11:30 - 12:15, Steven Burlingham
1. What is the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children?
2. The Impact of a Failure to Comply With the ICPC
3. Practical Steps in Dealing With an ICPC Request
5. SOLVING OBSTACLES TO INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
   1:15 - 2:00, Steven Burlingham
1. Introduction
2. Overview of the Immigration Law and Adoption Law Provisions
3. Risks and Realities of International Adoption
6. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   2:00 - 3:00, Timothy P. Murphy
1. Ethical Considerations
2. Criminal and Illegal Conduct
3. Confidentiality
4. Attorney Fees
7. PRACTICAL GUIDE
   3:15 - 4:00, M. Jane Pearce
1. Adoption Service Providers
2. Fees and Expenses
3. Documentation
4. Medical Care and Insurance Coverage
5. Tax Credits and Accounting Reports
6. Special Needs Children
7. Second Parent Adoptions
8. Surrogacy
9. Reproductive Technology Issues
8. WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
   4:00 - 4:30, Steven Burlingham
1. Agency Issues
2. Birth Parent Issues
3. Considerations for Trial

STEVEN BURLINGHAM has practiced adoption, family law and estate planning since 1982. He is a certified specialist in family law and a partner in the Sacramento law firm of Gary Till & Burlingham. Mr. Burlingham has litigated numerous adoption and custody cases, written and argued adoption appeals and lectured frequently on adoptions. He earned his B.A. degree from Biola University, and his J.D. degree and LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Mr. Burlingham is a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association (member, Family Law, and Probate and Estate Planning sections) , the State Bar of California (member, Family Law, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate sections), and the Sacramento Collaborative Practice Group.

TIMOTHY P. MURPHY has practiced law in the Sacramento area for more than 28 years. His practice areas include adoptions, estate planning and elder law. A frequent speaker on continuing education topics, Mr. Murphy has lectured for CEB, the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers and Stanford University Law School. He maintains an active adoption practice and has successfully represented parties on appeal in adoption related cases, including two reported decisions, Tyler v. Children's Home Society, 29 Cal. App. 4th 511 (1994) and In re Paul H., 111 Cal. App. 4th 753 (2003). Mr. Murphy earned his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

M. JANE PEARCE is a sole practitioner in Sacramento, practicing primarily in adoption law, family law, estate planning and probate. She has lectured on her areas of practice and has guest lectured at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California at Davis School of Law. Ms. Pearce is a member of the Women Lawyers of Sacramento, the Sacramento County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. She earned her B.A. degree from Austin College and her J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com