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. Understanding Differences Between Adoptions and Guardianships
6. Following Ethical Guidelines in Adoption Law
7. Practical Guide Through the Adoption Process

Continuing Education Credits:   

Continuing Legal Education

Credit Hrs    State    Credit Approval Expiration

* denotes specialty credits

1. THE ESSENTIALS OF ADOPTION LAW
   9:00 - 9:50, Sarah S. Johnston and James A. Waits
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
   10:05 - 11:00, Kevin W. Kenney
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
   11:00 - 12:00, Edward E. Moore
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
8. Mediation
4. OVERCOMING INTERSTATE ADOPTION ISSUES
   1:00 - 1:45, Kevin W. Kenney
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. UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADOPTIONS AND GUARDIANSHIPS
   1:45 - 2:25, Edward E. Moore
1. What is Guardianship?
2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Two Options
3. How to Evaluate Cases and Advise Clients Regarding the Best Option
6. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   2:40 - 3:40, Sarah S. Johnston and James A. Waits
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
   3:40 - 4:30, Kevin W. Kenney
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

SARAH S. JOHNSTON is an attorney at the law firm of Waits, Brownlee, Berger & Dewoskin. Ms. Johnston's practice areas include adoption and domestic law. Prior to joining Waits, Brownlee, Berger & Dewoskin, Ms. Johnston was the managing attorney for Jackson County CASA, a non-profit organization that provides Guardian Ad Litem services in Jackson County, Missouri. Ms. Johnston has also worked in Jackson County as an attorney for the Juvenile Officer and as an attorney in the Office of the Guardian Ad Litem. Ms. Johnston is a former foster parent and is an adoptive parent. She earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and practices in both Kansas and Missouri. 

KEVIN W. KENNEY is a sole practitioner in Prairie Village, Kansas. His main areas of practice are adoption law, family law, workers' compensation and estate planning. Mr. Kenney is a member of The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, The Missouri Bar and the Kansas Bar Association. He earned his B.A. degree from Northern Illinois University and his J.D. degree from the University of Kansas City.

JAMES A. WAITS is a partner in the law firm of Waits, Brownlee, Berger & Dewoskin. He has been with the firm since 1984, and he concentrates his practice in the area of adoption. He handles all manners of adoptions including, adult, agency, contested, foster, private and step-parent. Mr. Waits is a frequent speaker on adoption law and has handled adoptions in more than 20 counties in Missouri. He has handled contested adoption cases at the trial level and in the Court of Appeals and Missouri Supreme Court. Mr. Waits served as a Municipal Judge in Independence, Missouri from 1988 to 1992. He earned his B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from William Jewell College and his J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Kansas. He is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan and Eastern Jackson County bar associations, and The Missouri Bar.

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

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