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 - 10:00, Roseanne Hilow
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
   10:00 - 11:00, Nancy A. Zoller
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
   11:15 - 11:45, Nancy A. Zoller
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
   11:45 - 12:15, Amy Stack
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
   1:15 - 1:45, Amy Stack
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. Practical Tips for Families Considering International Adoption
6. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   1:45 - 2:15, Amy Stack
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
   2:15 - 3:15, Roseanne Hilow
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
   3:30 - 4:30, Nancy A. Zoller
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

ROSEANNE HILOW has been the general magistrate and supervisor of the Adoption Department for the Cuyahoga County Probate Court from 1987 to present. She has been an instructor in the Paralegal Program at Myers University since 1990. Ms. Hilow earned her B.S. degree from Miami University, her J.D. degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her Master of Business Administration degree from James J. Nance College of Business Administration, earning a place on the Dean's list at each college. She has been a member of the Judicial College faculty of the Ohio Supreme Court since 1992, and also is a member of the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County bar associations and Cleveland State University. Ms. Hilow is a continuing legal education instructor for the Ohio State Bar Association, has presented to the Ohio Association of Probate Judges and is a frequent speaker at area hospitals, public and private social service agencies and community groups.

AMY STACK is an attorney with Kurt & Vermilya Law, Inc. Ms. Stack is a general practice attorney with a background in civil litigation, municipal law, criminal defense, workers' compensation, probate, estate planning, adoption and family law. She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude from Baldwin Wallace College and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

NANCY A. ZOLLER is an attorney with the law firm of Gurney, Miller & Mamone. Ms. Zoller has been an attorney for over 23 years. She maintains a general practice concentrated in family law. Ms. Zoller is admitted to practice in Ohio and before the U.S. Supreme Court. She earned her B.A. degree from Marquette University and her J.D. degree from Ohio Northern University.

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