» Second-Parent Adoption

A Second Trump Term and Your Family - Second-Parent Adoptions, Judgments of Parentage

Posted By
Brian Esser
Our families need a court order entitled to Full Faith & Credit under the U.S. Constitution. A judgment of parentage or adoption must be recognized by courts in all states. Translation: A hostile judge is not allowed to disregard the judgment. Read More
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Categories: Assisted Reproductive Technology, LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: adoption, ART, assisted reproductive technology, judgment of parentage, LGBT families, second-parent adoption, VAP

Second-Parent Adoptions - Advanced Issues

Posted By
Brian Esser
I recently wrote about why married same-sex couples, particularly female couples who conceive their child using anonymous donor sperm, still should complete a second-parent adoption. I want to look at some other forms of family formation here, and ad… Read More
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Categories: Assisted Reproductive Technology, Blog, LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: LGBT families, second-parent adoption, sperm donation, surrogacy, transgender families

Second-parent adoptions: Do I still need to do one after Obergefell?

Posted By
Brian Esser
The question comes up eventually. Whether I am doing a talk specifically for LGBT parents or at a meet-up of same-sex families like mine, a mother will ask me: Do I really need to do a second-parent adoption? Still? The “still” is because of Ober… Read More
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Categories: Blog, LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: Child-Parent Security Act, LGBT families, Obergefell, second-parent adoption

What the Recent SCOTUS Ruling Means for New Yorkers

Posted By
Brian Esser
This post originally ran on the blog of the New York Legal Assistance Group, and was co-authored with staff attorney Anya Mukarji-Connolly. The historic United States Supreme Court ruling that has legalized same-sex marriage sends a strong message of… Read More
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Categories: Blog, LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: adoption, Child-Parent Security Act, inter-country adoption, Louisiana, marriage equality, Mississippi, Obergefell, second-parent adoption, Texas

Second-Parent Adoption Following Surrogacy

Posted By
Brian Esser
I’ve written before about why a non-biological parent in married same-sex couples should complete second adoption, even if both parents are on named on the child’s birth certificate. Most families have no trouble getting a court to grant the adop… Read More
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Categories: Assisted Reproductive Technology, Gestational Surrogacy, LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: assisted reproductive technology, gestational surrogacy, India, international surrogacy, LGBT families, second-parent adoption, surrogacy

Do I Really Need a Sperm Donor Agreement?

Posted By
Brian Esser
When I talk to potential clients considering using a known sperm donor (especially lesbian couples), I often get two questions: “Can’t I just do the donor agreement myself?” No. “Do I really need a sperm donor agreement?”… Read More
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Categories: LGBT Families, Second-Parent Adoption, Sperm Donation
Tags: assisted reproductive technology, donor conception, intended parents, LGBT families, second-parent adoption, sperm donation

Are Second-Parent Adoptions Necessary?

Posted By
Brian Esser
The answer is decidedly YES. In New York state, a person is presumed to be the parent of any child born to or adopted by that person’s spouse. But that only truly works if the parents’ marriage is universally recognized in the US. But sam… Read More
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Categories: Blog, Second-Parent Adoption
Tags: LGBT families, marriage equality, second-parent adoption, sperm donation