This is the property of the Daily Journal Corporation and fully protected by copyright. It is made available only to Daily Journal subscribers for personal or collaborative purposes and may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, stored or transferred without written permission. Please click "Reprint" to order presentation-ready copies to distribute to clients or use in commercial marketing materials or for permission to post on a website. and copyright (showing year of publication) at the bottom.
Subscribe to the Daily Journal for access to Daily Appellate Reports, Verdicts, Judicial Profiles and more...

Family

Jul. 2, 2024

Why legal counsel is crucial in ensuring successful permanent placement of children

Adoptive parents frequently encounter legal and financial hurdles when finalizing adoptions, often lacking the same access to counsel and support services as foster parents. Unlike biological parents who are entitled to legal representation, adoptive parents, particularly those with limited financial resources, must navigate the process without legal assistance, representing themselves.

Shutterstock

On June 11, 2024, the California Court of Appeal issued a decision in In Re: Andrew M., concerning whether to terminate the parental rights of 5-year-old Andrew’s biological parents. His long-term foster parents sought to adopt him. The case highlights the critical role counsel play not just for foster parents, but also in non-dependency cases.

Andrew was born in December 2021 with methadone in his system. The O...

To continue reading, please subscribe.
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$795 for an entire year!

Or access this article for $45
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)

Already a subscriber?

Sign up for Daily Journal emails