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. Following Ethical Guidelines in Adoption Law
6. Practical Guide Through the Adoption Process
7. What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

1. THE ESSENTIALS OF ADOPTION LAW
   9:00 - 9:45, David M. Collins Jr.
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 - 10:45, James Fletcher Thompson
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, David M. Collins Jr.
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
   1:00 - 1:30, James Fletcher Thompson
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. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   1:30 - 2:30, Rachael A. Dain
1. Identifying Conflicts of Interest
2. Confidentiality in Adoption Cases
3. Guidelines for Setting Fair Attorney Fees
4. Observing the Rules of Professional Conduct
6. PRACTICAL GUIDE THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROCESS
   2:45 - 3:45, James Fletcher Thompson
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
7. WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
   3:45 - 4:30, James Fletcher Thompson
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

DAVID M. COLLINS JR. is a partner in the law firm of Lawrence Rudasill & Collins, where his main areas of practice include marital litigation and contested adoptions. He is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Mr. Collins previously has been an adjunct professor in public administration at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg and also has previously presented a CLE seminar on family law. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg, his M.P.A. from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Collins is a member of the North Carolina and South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the North Carolina State Bar, the South Carolina Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association.

RACHAEL A. DAIN is a sole practitioner in Columbia where she practices in the areas of family law, criminal defense and plaintiff's civil litigation. Ms. Dain has taught computer technology at a private school prior to becoming an attorney and was a microsystems analyst for many years. She earned her B.S. degree from Coastal Carolina University, where she also completed the Graduate Honors Program and earned her J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina. Ms. Dain is a member of the South Carolina Bar (member, Professional Responsibility Committee).

JAMES FLETCHER THOMPSON is an attorney in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he has a selective civil trail practice representing people who have been harmed by the negligence of others. He has an extensive practice involving children's law including child custody, termination of parental rights and foster parent rights. The law of assisted reproductive technologies is also a central component of Mr. Thompson's practice. His practice in adoption law covers all aspects of adoption including adoptions by step-parents, grandparents and other in-family placements, international, adult, infant and agency adoptions. Mr. Thompson earned his B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University and served as president of the Student Government Association. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law where he was an Adjunct Professor of Law and taught a course entitled, "Parents, Children and the Law" and then joined his father in law practice the same year. He received national and state recognition for his service on behalf of children and adoptive families. Mr. Thompson and his father were recognized in Washington, D.C. with the "Angel in Adoption" award from the U.S. Congressional Coalition on Adoption. He was also honored by the South Carolina Council on Adoptable Children as the Adoption Advocate of the Year and was inducted into the South Carolina Adoption Hall of Fame. Mr. Thompson was recommended by the president of the South Carolina Bar and appointed by the Governor of South Carolina as the sole private practice attorney to serve on the Adoptions Procedure Study Committee. He was the sole private practice attorney to be appointed by the governor to serve on the Children in Foster Care and Adoption Services Task Force. Mr. Thompson is a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and he became one of two attorneys in the nation to achieve Hague approval from the Council on Accreditation as authorized by the U.S. Department of State. He is presently working on a book to be published by the South Carolina Bar regarding termination of parental rights, adoption and assisted reproductive technology. Mr. Thompson frequently lectures throughout the state and county on adoption, TPR and child welfare issues for professional and civic groups and has served as a spokesperson on these issues for the media. He also has testified before the South Carolina General Assembly on numerous occasions on adoption bills and other bills impacting families and children.

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