1. The Essentials of Adoption Law
2. Practical Guide Through Adoptions
3. Adoption Options/Budgets
4. Interstate Adoptions
5. Intercountry Adoptions
6. Indian Child Welfare Act
7. Representing Birth Mothers and Fathers/The Contested Adoption
8. Ethics
9. The Adoption Triad

1. THE ESSENTIALS OF ADOPTION LAW
   9:00 - 9:30, Christine Brail and John F. Mills
1. Who May Adopt
2. Who May be Adopted
3. Types of Adoptions
1. Michigan Children's Institute (MCI)
2. Family
3. Step Parent
4. Guardian/Will
5. Agency
6. Direct Placement
2. PRACTICAL GUIDE THROUGH ADOPTIONS
   9:30 - 10:15, Christine Brail and John F. Mills
1. Pre Placement Studies
2. Post Placement Reports
3. Order Allowing Placement
4. Residency Requirements for Step Parent, Family Guardian/Will
5. Relinquishment of Parental Rights/Consent to Adoption
6. Consents From Other States
7. Unknown/Unfound Birth Fathers
8. Waiting Periods
9. Open Adoptions
3. ADOPTION OPTIONS/BUDGETS
   10:30 - 11:15, Christine Brail and John F. Mills
1. MCI Adoptions
2. Direct Placement Adoptions
3. Agency Adoption
4. Same Sex Adoptions
5. Adoption Tax Credit
4. INTERSTATE ADOPTIONS
   11:15 - 12:00, Herbert A. Brail
1. ICPC Requirements
2. Exceptions to ICPC
3. Conflict of Laws
4. Effect on Independent Adoptions
5. Anticipated Changes
5. INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS
   1:00 - 1:30, Christine Brail
1. The Intercountry Adoption Act
2. The Hague Convention
6. INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
   1:30 - 2:00, Herbert A. Brail
1. Waiting Period for Consent
2. Time to Revoke Consent
3. Placement Preferences/Birth Mother Choice
4. Tribal Rights
5. Tribal Notice
7. REPRESENTING BIRTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS/THE CONTESTED ADOPTION
   2:00 - 2:45, Christine Brail and John F. Mills
1. Allowable Expenses
2. Right to Change Mind
3. Repayment of Expenses
4. Changing Adoptive Parents
5. Putative Father Registry
6. The Contested Adoption
1. Alleged vs. Acknowledged and Presumed Fathers
2. Right to Notice
3. Consent Requirements
4. Abandonment Pre-Birth/Post Birth
5. MCI Challenges Under Section 45
7. Challenging an Adoption
1. Statute of Limitations
2. Case Law Extending Time to Challenge
8. ETHICS
   3:00 - 4:00, Herbert A. Brail
1. Birth Parents and the Internet
2. What do I Get if I Give You My Child?
3. The Search for Wealthy Adoptive Parents
4. Notice to Alleged Fathers
5. Facilitators and Their Fees
9. THE ADOPTION TRIAD
   4:00 - 4:30, Christine Brail
1. Adoptive Parents - Who Chooses to Adopt and Why
2. Birthparents - Who Places Children for Adoption and Why
3. Adoptee - What Children are Available for Adoption and Why
4. The Effects of Grief and Loss on Each Member of the Triad
5. The Role of Bonding and Attachment on the Triad

CHRISTINE BRAIL, MSW, has been the director of the Keane Center for Adoption since the agency was founded in 1989. Over the years she has been involved in more than 600 adoptions. Ms. Brail has been at the forefront of the open adoption movement in Michigan. In addition to being the chief administrator for the agency, she provides direct, personal and compassionate assistance to all of the agency clients in the adoption triad. Ms. Brail is a graduate of Albion College with a degree in Sociology. She attended the University of Michigan School of Social Work and earned her Master's Degree. Ms. Brail has mentored and trained social work students over the years and participated in many adoption seminars, both as a speaker and an attendee.

HERBERT A. BRAIL is a solo practitioner who primarily handles domestic infant adoptions with an extensive interstate practice. Additionally, Mr. Brail frequently represents individuals and agencies in contested adoption matters. Joining the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) in 1991, he served on the Academy Board of Trustees and as the Academy's president from 2007-2008. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA), which was established in 2009. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Albion College, with a degree in History and American Studies, Mr. Brail attended Wayne State University Law School.

JOHN F. MILLS is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm of Williams Williams Rattner & Plunkett, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan. He has been in practice for more than 30 years. Mr. Mills is well known throughout the area for his vast experience in domestic relations, private adoption cases, and adoption-related litigation. He is also a skilled family law mediator and arbitrator. He lectures extensively at seminars for ICLE and other CLE providers and is a frequent guest lecturer on paternity law and adoption-related issues at Michigan State University College of Law, University of Detroit Law School and Cooley Law School. He has written several articles for the Michigan Family Law Journal and is the author of the chapter on paternity, adoption and surrogacy for the 6th edition of the ICLE publication, Michigan Family Law. Mr. Mills is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization recognizing expertise in family law. He is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan (former chair of the Family Law Section and former chair of the Adoption Law Committee). He is an Oakland County delegate to the State Bar Representative Assembly.

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