Family Forward Law, LLC

03/16/2022

Hope you’ll join me tomorrow as I share an overview of Assisted Reproductive Technology Law in Illinois!

Learn the necessary components of both donor agreements (s***m, egg, and embryo) and gestational carrier agreements. Moderator Josette Allen, Smart Law LLC, and Speakers: Tiffany Arrott Horstein, Family Forward Law, LLC, and Meg Nemeth Ledebuhr, Midwest Fertility Law Group, will help you establish your clients’ legal parental rights. Register: isba.org/cle/path?pathPage=%2Fisba%2Fcourses%2F39482%2Fwebinars%2F27447 🤰

02/09/2022

Hope to see you tomorrow as I moderate this amazing panel at The Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee Seminar on Contested Adoptions. There is still time to register and it will be available as a webcast in the future!

This seminar will discuss tools and tips for moving contested adoptions forward. Topics include consolidation of parallel custody cases, discovery and motion practice to narrow the issues, tips for early resolution, and what to expect procedurally if you do proceed to trial. Practitioners, Guardian....

10/29/2021

Just wrapped up a Gestational Surrogacy Agreement for my Intended Parent clients and thought it would be a great time to share more about growing your family through surrogacy in Illinois. https://www.familyforwardlaw.com/gestational-surrogacy-illinois/

What you need to know about Gestational Surrogacy in Illinois When we say gestational surrogacy, we mean the process by which one individual becomes pregnant through assisted reproductive medicine and carries the baby for another individual or individuals who will then be the child’s parent. There...

04/01/2021

If you are considering adoption, the CAFFA - Chicago Area Families for Adoption Virtual Conference is coming up and is a great way to learn about the types of adoption and find support no matter your path!

2021 VIRTUAL CAFFA PARENTING THROUGH ADOPTION CONFERENCE Saturday, April 10th – Sunday April 11th, 2021 Register Here: https://conta.cc/3uWtFxH We’re very excited to announce that registration is now OPEN for the 25th adoption education conference on Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th, ...

01/27/2021

As families grow and change over time, a step-parent adoption is one way to solidify new parent-child relationships. Read more about the process in my latest blog post:

If you’ve married and are looking to have your new spouse adopt your child from a prior relationship, this post will give you a better idea of what to expect during the step-parent adoption process. Petitioning In every adoption, parental rights of a mother and father are terminated and replaced w...

01/19/2021

So honored to be presenting a Nuts & Bolts of Adoption Seminar with the Child Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association tomorrow. Hope you'll join us!

08/25/2020

If you're curious about adopting through the foster system, my latest post explains the adoption process for foster parents.

When adoptions come to mind, people often think of adopting a child from the foster system. These are also called DCFS adoptions. It’s helpful to understand what happens before the adoption to better know whether this is the right path for you. Although there are children ready for adoption throug...

07/22/2020

On the blog last week I discussed the Indian Child Welfare Act. It can have important implications for your adoption or donor agreement.

Adoptions are governed by the laws of each state, meaning the requirements and process for adopting may be different in Illinois than any other state in the US. However, there are a few situations where a federal law determines how an adoption must be handled. One of those laws is

07/08/2020

The process of growing your family through adoption or assisted reproductive technology can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Each week I'm sharing information on the Family Forward Law, LLC blog to help navigate the journey!

An adoption journey can take many forms, but this post will discuss some of the most common routes at a high level. In future posts, I will go in-depth on each type of adoption to better prepare those who are exploring their options. Agency Adoptions: An agency will assist in pairing unrelated child...

06/10/2020

I’ve been quiet with all of the happenings over the past week, watching and learning, and knowing that no matter what I say, words are never enough.
First, Family Forward Law, LLC always strives to provide compassionate, client-centered legal services no matter our client’s race, gender, or sexual orientation. By its very nature, the work I do in assisted reproduction and adoptions acknowledges that not all families look the same, but each deserves love and the space to grow. I hope to always encourage and provide the support needed while remaining sensitive to the needs of non-traditional family structures.
Second, from my time at DCFS I quickly saw systemic injustices in relation to race and poverty. It is one of the reasons I created Family Forward Law, LLC with the goal of having a more direct impact on my client’s life and future. It is a reason I provide alternative fee structures, payment plans, and unbundled services to provide broader access to justice. To do better, we must do something different.
I am continually learning and Family Forward Law, LLC will continue to fight for equality for all through legal advocacy.