Facing a Contested Adoption: What You Need to Know and How Tate

The journey towards adoption is filled with hope, anticipation, and sometimes a few bumps. Perhaps the most stressful situation, though, is when hopeful adoptive parents receive news a birth parent may contest the adoption. This situation occurs most often when the birth mother chooses adoption, and the birth father disagrees…

Navigating the Senate’s Decision on the Right to IVF Act

On June 13, 2024, the Senate voted on the Right to IVF Act, which did not pass, falling short at 48-47. In a nutshell, the Senate decided not to advance the bill that would have established federal protections for in vitro fertilization (“IVF”). At Tate Healey Webster, we understand how…

Erica: A Rising Star in Adoption Law

Board-certified adoption attorney Erica T. Healey’s dedication to building families through adoption law has been recognized with the prestigious Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star award, an honor she’s received every year since 2015. This award acknowledges exceptional legal minds under 40, placing Erica among the top 2.5% of Florida attorneys.…

Changes to Florida’s Private Adoption Laws, Taking Effect July 1, 2024

Tate Healey Webster is proud to represent adoption agencies across the state. We keep our finger on the pulse of evolving adoption and ART laws and issues, and always provide our firm clients with important updates and practical advice on how it affects their practice. Below is a brief summary…

Florida’s Surrendered Infant Law Gets a Big Heart: How HB 775 Benefits Mothers, Children, and Prospective Adoptive Families

Exciting news for Florida families! House Bill 775, taking effect July 1, 2024, brings significant changes to our state’s law regarding surrendered infants. At Tate Healey Webster, we applaud these advancements that prioritize the well-being of birth parents and children and are proud that lawmakers consulted with one of our attorneys, Jeanne T. Tate, in…

A Change in International Adoption:

Insights & Guidance At Tate Healey Webster, we are not just witnesses to the evolution of international adoption—we’re dedicated participants in the journey that brings families together. With international adoptions becoming more infrequent, the importance of each family’s story grows. In 2022, we saw 1,517 such stories unfold, and although…

Social Security Benefits for Children in Foster Care

Many children in foster care qualify for social security benefits; however, what happens to the benefits received by the Title IV-E agency (foster care agency) as payee can vary state-to-state. Over the past couple of years, there have been numerous articles about states that collect social security checks for children…

Birth Parents: Become Informed Before Making an Adoption Plan

Making an adoption plan is a brave and courageous decision.  If you are exploring adoption as an option or have made a decision to place your child for adoption you should make sure to become informed about your rights.  An adoption attorney can provide you not only an overview of…

Finding Hope: The Sister I Never Knew I Always Needed

When Bridgette’s mother revealed she had a sister that was placed for adoption, she knew she had to find her sister for her mom’s sake. Through a series of DNA tests and a lot of perseverance, Bridgette connected with her sister, Cynthia.Meeting each other as adults came with many sweet…
Pregnant woman packing for hospital and taking notes

Hospital Packing List for Adoptive Parents

Hospital Packing List for Adoptive Parents So, you are adopting an infant, and you get that much-awaited call telling you that your baby is on the way! Whether you have expected the call for months because of a lengthy match period or whether the call was completely unexpected and out…