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Adoption, Surrogacy and Assisted Fertility

Greg Franklin heads up the adoption and assisted fertility practice of Ashcraft & Franklin, LLP. He has more than 20 years of adoption law experience and has represented clients in all aspects of domestic and international adoptions. Greg is himself an adoptive parent, and he understands well the joys and frustrations involved in the adoption process. He is a frequent author and lecturer on adoption, assisted fertility and ethics issues. Greg is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, a national association of approximately 350 attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the fields of adoption and assisted fertility law, which includes surrogacy, egg donation, gestational carriers and other aspects of assisted fertility. Friendly and easy to talk to, yet passionate about his work, Greg provides the highest level of legal service dedicated to adoption law.

We Offer Comprehensive Adoption and Assisted Fertility Legal Counsel

In the area of adoptions, we offer a full range of legal services to adoptive parents (both married or single), without regard to age, race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. Our paramount concern is that the adoption process be legal, ethical and meet the expectations of the parties and the best interests of the child.

We represent birth parents in both private and agency adoptions.

 We represent Intended Parents as well as Gestational Carriers and Surrogates in matters relating to assisted fertility.

Please click here to read an overview of domestic and international adoption procedures.

Please click here to learn more about co-parent adoptions—those involving same-sex partners, where one partner is adopting the biological or adoptive child of his or her partner.

Our Adoption and Assisted Fertility Practice Serves Western New York and the Southern Tier

With offices conveniently located in Rochester, we serve the following counties:

  • Monroe County
  • Wayne County
  • Steuben County
  • Orleans County
  • Yates County
  • Schuyler County
  • Chautauqua County
  • Seneca County
  • Ontario County
  • Onondaga County
  • Chemung County
  • Livingston County

Representing Adoptive Parents

Our representation of adoptive parents includes:

  • Selection of the appropriate options for locating a child
  • Selection of the agency or social worker to prepare the home study
  • Preparing the petitions and other legal documents for pre-certification as qualified adoptive parents
  • Assistance in networking
  • Assistance in drafting and placing advertisements
  • Once a birth mother or agency has been selected, monitoring the progress of the adoption to avoid problems and help the process work smoothly
  • Immigration assistance in international adoptions
  • Interstate Compact (interstate adoptions)
  • Finalizing the adoption after placement
  • Assistance in foster care adoptions and in obtaining the appropriate level of subsidy and SSI

Representing Intended Parents in Surrogacy and Assisted Fertility  

  • Selection of the appropriate resources for the medical side of assisted fertility
  • Selection of the agency to facilitate the surrogacy
  • Preparing the contracts with the Gestational Surrogate
  • Preparing petitions and other legal documents for obtaining an Order of Parentage

Representing Surrogates and Gestational Carriers 

  • Selection of the appropriate resources for the medical side of assisted fertility
  • Selection of the agency to facilitate the surrogacy
  • Preparing the contracts with the Intended Parents
  • Preparing petitions and other legal documents for obtaining an Order of Parentage

Representing Birth Parents

We offer assistance to birth parents in all aspects of the adoption process, including:

  • Assistance in selecting the adoptive parents
  • Assistance in meeting and interviewing the parents (if desired)
  • Assistance in obtaining medical care
  • Assistance in arranging for living accommodations and living expenses, if allowed by law
  • Coordination with the hospital where the baby will be born
  • Handling all legal matters and the preparation of all documents
  • Assistance in locating a social worker for counseling (if desired)
  • Ensuring that the adoptive parents are legally certified to adopt
  • Monitoring the progress of the adoption to avoid problems and help the process work smoothly
  • Assistance with follow-up and ongoing contact with the adoptive parents, if applicable

Please click here to read an overview of the rights of birth parents.

Representation in International Adoptions

We offer assistance to adoptive couples and single parents in all aspects of the international adoption process, including the following:

  • Selection of the appropriate options for locating a child
  • Determining the appropriate preparer of the home study
  • Preparing the petitions and other legal documents for pre-certification as qualified adoptive parents
  • Preparing the petitions and other documents for submission to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)
  • Hague Convention issues and coordination
  • Once a child has been identified, monitoring the progress of the adoption to avoid problems and help the process work smoothly
  • Coordination of paperwork between the adoptive parents and child's country of residence (this step may be handled by the adoption agency)
  • Finalizing the adoption after placement
  • Confirmation of the international adoption decree by a court in New York

If you are considering adoption as a way to grow your family, or you seek family security for your birth child, please contact Greg to arrange a consultation.

To learn more about Greg's adoption practice, please visit his adoption website at www.AdoptionNY.com.

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