Agenda / Content Covered

1. THE ESSENTIALS OF ADOPTION LAW
   9:00 — 9:45, Nicole Moore
   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
2. OFFERING THE DIFFERENT ADOPTION OPTIONS
   9:45 — 10:30, Nicole Moore
   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. When and How to Use Independent Options
   6. Circumstances for When it's Appropriate to Adopt an Adult
   7. Guidelines for Adopting Relatives
   8. Understanding Stepparent Adoptions
   9. Examining and Ensuring Foster Parent Rights
3. PRACTICAL GUIDE THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROCESS
   10:45 — 11:30, Anthony Marchese
   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. Open Adoption and Determining the Degree of Contact
   11. Unique Considerations When Adopting Special Needs Children
4. PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATING PARENTAL RIGHTS
   12:30 — 1:15, Anthony Marchese
   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
5. RESOLVING INTERSTATE ADOPTION ISSUES
   1:15 — 2:00, Mary K. Wimsett
   1. What is the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)?
   2. Dealing with Conflicts Between State Laws
   3. Navigating Multistate Adoption Procedures
   4. Resolving Interstate and ICWA Adoption Issues
6. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
   2:00 — 2:30, Mary K. Wimsett
   1. Making Clients Aware of Risks and Realities
   2. Dealing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
   3. Adhering to State Laws Regarding Intercountry Adoptions
   4. Crucial Steps Involving Birth Certificates and Citizenship
   5. Practical Tips for Families Considering International Adoption
7. FOLLOWING ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN ADOPTION LAW
   2:45 — 3:45, Mary K. Wimsett
   1. Identifying Conflicts of Interest
   2. Confidentiality in Adoption Cases
   3. Guidelines for Setting Fair Attorney Fees
   4. Observing the Rules of Professional Conduct
8. WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
   3:45 — 4:30, Anthony Marchese
   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

Accreditation Details:

ANTHONY B. MARCHESE practices law in Tampa, Florida as a sole practitioner. He has a trial practice consisting of criminal defense and family law, and has acted in the capacity of intermediary under the adoption statute for the past 42 years. Mr. Marchese is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family law mediator and also acts as a private jurist. In the capacity of adoptions, he has worked as an adoption intermediary, he has facilitated over 1,500 adoption placement and has litigated numerous contested adoptions throughout the state of Florida. He earned a Bachelor Performing Arts degree with a minor in education from the University of Tampa and his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Marchese is a member of the Florida Association of Adoption Lawyers, the Florida Adoption Council, the Hillsborough County Bar, the Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Bar, the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and was on the Florida Inaugural Adoption Committee for Board Certification. Mr. Marchese is licensed to practice in state and federal courts and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court.

NICOLE W. MOORE is a board certified adoption attorney and Florida Supreme Court certified family mediator who manages and operates the Orlando law office of Jeanne T. Tate P.A. She has been practicing with the firm since opening the Orlando office in 2005. Ms. Moore practices exclusively in adoption law throughout the state of Florida and in conjunction with out-of-state placements. She also represents adoptive parents in adoption finalizations and represents several adoption agencies in private adoption placements. She is also a member of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Reproduction Attorneys, the Florida Adoption Council, the Orange County Bar Association, and The Florida Bar. Ms. Moore is the host of Moore to Love: An Adoption Podcast. She interviews adoptive parents, birth mothers, and adoption experts that reveal the raw truth about love, law, and the learning process that comes with adoption.

MARY K. WIMSETT has assisted thousands of families with their adoptions and is honored to have the opportunity to use her legal skills to help make families whole. Ms. Wimsett serves as special counsel to the Statewide Guardian ad Litem program. In this capacity, she trains child advocates and assists with special projects regarding the best interests of children. Ms. Wimsett is a board certified adoption attorney in Florida. She presents frequently statewide on topics related to adoption, dependency, child advocacy, and guardianships. Ms. Wimsett is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law where she teaches adoption law. After graduating, cum laude from Vanderbilt University, she obtained her J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Florida. While at the University of Florida, Ms. Wimsett served as a Florida Bar Legal Services fellow and a Center for Governmental Responsibility Public Service fellow. She has served as vice-chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Rules Committee, chair and vice chair of The Florida Bar Juvenile Rules Committee, and chair and vice chair of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. Ms. Wimsett is a past president of The Bennett Inn of Court and has served as a board member of this Inn for many years as a founding member.