Jeanne T. Tate, Esq. with Tate Healey Webster, has been awarded the Fellow of Distinction Award by the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA).
This prestigious honor, considered the Academy’s highest distinction, is awarded to a Fellow who exemplifies excellence, integrity, and transformative leadership in the fields of adoption and assisted reproductive technology (ART) law. Nominees are selected through peer nominations and an extensive review conducted by AAAA’s Awards Committee.
A Career of Legal Excellence and Meaningful Impact
With more than four decades of experience, Jeanne T. Tate is regarded as one of the country’s foremost adoption attorneys. Her work includes thousands of finalized adoptions, numerous precedent-setting appellate decisions, and legal representation of adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoption agencies in complex and contested matters.
Jeanne has served as President of the Florida Adoption Council, Chair and Vice Chair of the Florida Bar’s Adoption Law Certification Committee, and held board and committee roles within AAAA itself. She has also been appointed by multiple governors to the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, reflecting her deep trust within the legal community.
As an educator and mentor, Jeanne taught Adoption Law & Procedure at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and has influenced countless attorneys through speaking engagements, bar committee work, and hands-on mentoring.
Scholarly Contributions and National Leadership
A hallmark of her career has been her dedication to public education and scholarship. Jeanne has authored several widely cited articles, including pieces for the Florida Bar Journal and the HAWL Journal, and has written extensively on legal reform in adoption, the putative father registry, and permanency for foster children.
She is a frequent lecturer at national and international legal conferences and has appeared on platforms such as 20/20, CNN, The Early Show, ESPN, and The John Walsh Show, helping shape public narratives around adoption and family formation.
A Life of Service
Beyond her legal accomplishments, Jeanne is the founder of two licensed adoption agencies—Heart of Adoptions, Inc. and Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc.—which provide ethical and compassionate support to birth parents and adoptive families alike. She also founded the St. Francis Fund, a nonprofit that supports special needs and foster youth.
Jeanne’s passion for service has earned her the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award from the Florida Supreme Court, the Angel in Adoption Award from Congress, and countless other honors including Super Lawyers’ Top 10 Lawyers in Florida and Lifetime Achievement Awards from leaders in the adoption field.
About AAAA
The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) is the world’s largest credentialed legal organization dedicated to ethical and competent family formation law. With nearly 500 Fellows spanning the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, AAAA advocates for sound adoption and ART policy and supports professionals through training, education, and collaboration.
“Receiving this award from my colleagues is deeply meaningful,” said Tate. “I am proud to work in a field that transforms lives and to stand alongside professionals who are committed to protecting children and strengthening families.”
For More Information:
Visit Jeanne’s Profile: https:// About AAAA: https://adoptionart.org