Knoxville Tennessee Family Law Blog | Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner

The drawbacks of each type of adoption

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Friday, June 14, 2019.

There are three main types of adoptions that Tennessee residents could be a part of. Open adoptions allow for the birth parents and adoptive parents to freely interact with each other. In a confidential adoption, the birth and adoptive families will not interact with or be able to identify each other. Mediated adoptions take a middle road and allow contact through a third-party. However, the parties will still not be able to identify each other.

There may be several disadvantages to each type of adoption for both the birth and the adoptive parents. For instance, the birth parent in an open adoption may have a hard time setting boundaries while the adoptive parents may have difficulty meeting the emotional needs of the child and the birth parents. Children may also have a hard time managing the expectations of two sets of parents in an open adoption.

Understanding how foster care and adoption work

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Children in Tennessee and elsewhere may be taken away from their biological parents or guardians for a variety of reasons. As a result, they may be placed in foster care or placed for adoption. However, there are significant differences between these two types of placement. For example, a foster parent is expected to provide care until a permanent home can be found for the child. When a child is adopted, he or she becomes a part of the new family.

When a child is adopted, the biological parents lose some or all of their rights to that minor. The adoptive parents are now considered to be the people who make decisions on the child's behalf. In a foster care setting, the biological parents may retain the right to make decisions for a child. In some cases, the state will have some say into how the child is cared for.

Here's what to know about adopting in Tennessee

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Adoption is a wonderful way to add a new person to your family. Whether that's an infant or teen, you want to do what's best for the child.

As a family that is potentially considering adoption, it's important to know how adoption could affect you. With over 300 children waiting for adoption in Tennessee, you will have lots of decisions to make in the coming months.

House votes unanimously to update international adoption law

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Prospective parents in Tennessee and around the country who hope to adopt a baby from a foreign country will be pleased to hear that the House of Representatives voted unanimously on May 20 to pass the Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019. The bill amends the Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2000 and requires the Secretary of State to stay abreast of international adoption laws and notify Congress about any changes that could make the process more difficult for American families.

The bill's Republican sponsor said that the 2000 law was due for an update because laws passed in recent years in many countries are making the international adoption process process extremely difficult for Americans, and its Democrat co-sponsor said in a press release that the new law will ensure that prospective parents have the information they need to adopt successfully. The 2000 law required the Department of State to provide Congress with international adoption statistics, but it did not call for information about new or amended adoption laws.

How health issues may affect the ability to adopt a child

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Individuals looking to adopt in Tennessee may wonder if underlying health issues like diabetes could prevent them from successfully completing an adoption. There are no standard "rules" that automatically prevent someone with a health issue from adopting. Each adoption agency or country has its own set of guidelines when considering prospective adoptive parents.

In addition to the age of the couple, adoption considerations typically include outstanding debts, previous marriages, age differences between couples and whether either potential adoptive parent has a criminal record. Health issues are also considered. An adoptive parent with diabetes or a similar underlying health issue, for instance, may be disqualified if it's determined that a health condition could affect the ability to care for a child. Some countries or agencies may ask for a doctor's note stating that an applicant's condition is under control and won't interfere with their ability to parent.

Adopting a child as a single person

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Single men and women are allowed to adopt children in Tennessee and other states. However, it may not be possible for single individuals to adopt children from other countries. Furthermore, not all agencies will allow domestic adoptions by those who are not married. Those who hope to be a single parent will need to show that they are capable of providing for the child emotionally and financially without the help of spouse or partner.

As part of the adoption process, an individual should be ready to answer questions about his or her lifestyle. Those questions may relate to who they prefer to date or what they prefer to do in their spare time. Men may face additional scrutiny, and it is possible that they will be denied an opportunity to be an adoptive father even if all requirements are met.

Tennessee senator withdraws bill meant to limit LGBTQ adoption

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

The sponsor of a Senate bill that would have let faith-based adoption agencies deny adoption applications from LGBTQ people has asked that it be removed from the legislative agenda. This action delays consideration of the bill until at least next year. No explanation accompanied the removal of the bill, but pressure from national groups that oppose discrimination against LGBTQ people appears to have suppressed this proposed legislation.

Amazon along with other large companies had openly stated that the state should not pass laws that negatively targeted LGBTQ people. The leadership of the Tennessee Titans worried that new discriminatory laws would tarnish the state's image and prevent Nashville from being selected to host an NFL Draft event. Superstar entertainer Taylor Swift donated $113,000 to an organization that fights for equality.

Mediation can help resolve your divorce quickly

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner on Monday, May 6, 2019.

When you're going through divorce, you need to do what you can to protect your best interests. However, as most people know, negotiating is still important for most couples.

It's typically in your interest to reduce the length of time of the divorce and to avoid disputes when possible. Negotiating and coming to agreements with your spouse will also limit the cost of hiring attorneys and the time of being in court. For many couples, it's not possible to resolve all disputes without some help. That's why some couples choose to go through mediation.

How to adopt as a single parent

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Friday, May 3, 2019.

In recent years, there has been a rise of single women who have chosen to become mothers after achieving educational and career success. One reason why they choose to become mothers is that they want to experience the joy of raising a child. In some cases, those individuals do not plan on being a single parent indefinitely. For those who cannot have children naturally, adoption is an alternative that may be available.

Generally speaking, adopting a child from a foreign country might be easier for single people who wish to become parents. This is partially because biological mothers in the United States may prefer married couples over single individuals. In addition to the challenge of obtaining approval for an adoption, a single parent could face criticism from friends and family members. They may claim that a single parent household is not good for a child.

Religious agency agrees to LGBT adoptions after settlement

On behalf of Law Office of Lisa Collins Werner posted in Adoption on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Same-sex families seeking to adopt in Tennessee may be heartened by developments in Michigan. One large foster care and adoption agency has acknowledged its responsibilities under a state legal settlement, affirming that it will now place children in LGBT families' homes. The agency, Bethany Christian Services, is a non-profit organization that contracts with the state government to handle around 8 percent of its foster care and adoption cases. There are around 13,000 cases involving children from troubled households with state involvement.

Even while confirming its policy change, however, the nonprofit said that it was disappointed with the government's implementation of the settlement agreement, which could potentially spell obstacles for LGBT couples and families. The settlement was reached between the state and same-sex couples that had filed suit in 2017 against discriminatory foster care and adoption practices. Under its terms, religious or faith-based nonprofits that accept referrals from the state's Department of Health and Human Services may not refuse to place those referred children in households with LGBT parents.