Recent Posts in Adoption Category

Actress Sandra Bullock has finalized her divorce from Jesse James. Bullock filed for divorce on April 23, a month after tabloid reports surfaced that James had been unfaithful to her with a tattoo model named Michelle (Bombshell) McGee. McGee told InTouch Magazine in March that she and James had conducted an 11-month affair that began when Bullock was filming The Blind Side in Atlanta, GA.

With the divorce finalized, Bullock will be able to complete the adoption of her five and a half month old son, Louis Bardo. The baby has been living with Bullock since January. It is also reported that despite the divorce, James will remain in Austin, TX, so that Bullock can continue her relationship with his three children. Bullock and James were married for five years.

If you live in Florida and have decided that it is time for you to end your marriage, get the help you need by working with a Jacksonville divorce attorney.  Contact Ellerin & Hutchinson now!

The former director of a Tampa-based adoption agency was charged with first-degree grand theft for using deceptive means to overcharge adoptive parents.

In October, Debra West of Adoption by Choice, pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain. The judge said that if West paid $178,000 in restitution to her victims, she would not have to serve up to 30 years in prison. Recently, she made the last payment of $81,000, after which she was sentenced to 15 years of probation. She also has to pay $4,000 within the next month to cover the cost of her prosecution.

Prosecutors say West defrauded 20 couples from August 2002 until October 2005. West would charge adoptive parents to help cover the cost of the birth parents' expenses, but later admitted to embezzling the money instead of directing it to the intended recipients.

The Hillsborough County judge handling the case said West is barred from directly or indirectly working in child placement, but she can provide counseling or advice to birth mothers considering adoption.

Contact a Jacksonville Adoption Lawyer

Whether you are interested in bringing a child into your life, or you've made the selfless decision to give your child up for adoption, you can find trusted legal counsel at Ellerin Hutchison. Adoption is a major life decision that requires a great deal of thought and planning. At our firm, you can trust your case will be handled by a Jacksonville family law attorney who will do everything necessary to ensure your legal rights are protected, as well as help you avoid unethical situations like the one involving West. Our goal is to help you achieve your objective, whether that means expanding your family by bringing a child into your home or helping you find a loving home to place your child in.

Contact Ellerin Hutchinson today at (904) 638-3134 to learn more about our adoption services.

The blanket ban on gay adoption in Florida may soon be lifted, thanks to a Miami judge who recently determined the ban was unconstitutional.

Overturning the ban is sure to stir up controversy, especially as the gay marriage debate continues across the country. But for many Floridians this could mean they will finally have the chance to expand their families.

The issue was brought to public attention when Martin Gill, a gay man in North Miami whose been living with his partner for nine years, asked the court if he could adopt two foster children he has been caring for for nearly 5 years.  All of the social workers monitoring this case agree that Gill would be approved for adoption if it were not for the ban, since both boys have thrived since they started living with him. 

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman agreed and approved Gill’s adoption of the two boys, concluding that sexual orientation should not be a factor in determining whether or not someone is fit to be a parent.

An appeal is expected to come any day now, and when it does, the case will move to the Florida Supreme Court.

This case is unique in that it not only questions the constitutional right to adopt a child, but that there is documented evidence that children can thrive in a gay household.  This challenges opponents’ number one argument: that a gay household is not conducive to raising children, nor is it in the best interest of a child’s well being.

Needless to say, we will be monitoring the progress of the case and this issue to see what happens.

If you are interested in learning more about adoption or child custody issues, please do not hesitate to contact Jacksonville family law attorney Scott Ellerin for experienced legal counsel and personalized service.