Michele Jackson, an attorney at Harden Jackson Law, is presenting on International Adoption at the 37th Annual Child Welfare Symposium sponsored by the Joint Council on international children's services (JCICS) on May 21st, 2013.

The lightning talk is titled, Analysis of Risk in an International Adoption Program and Strategic Planning for Growth Amidst the Risk and Hague Convention. It is part of a fast-paced session for attendees to hear about different child and family-related topics from professionals in a variety of fields.

The Joint Council helps orphaned and vulnerable children live in a permanent and safe family by advocating on their behalf, marshaling the resources they need, educating those who serve them and mobilizing those who care. Joint Council and its partner organizations provided services to 2.1 million children and families in 2010.

Ms. Jackson is a founder of HARDEN JACKSON, LLC where she serves as Chair of the Adoption & Reproductive Law Practice Group and concentrates her law practice in adoption, assisted reproductive technology, and international family law. Her practice includes representation for adoptive parents, as well as step-parent and second parent adoptions. Additionally, Ms. Jackson represents intended parents or surrogates in gestational surrogacy arrangements and other Assisted Reproductive matters such as egg donor agreements. She is routinely sought for her knowledge and experience regarding issues in international adoptions and international family law and has extensive experience with children in the United States and orphans worldwide. Ms. Jackson has dedicated herself to the adoption of orphans worldwide, while assisting couples and individuals to realize their dreams of becoming parents. Her commitment includes traveling to countries to develop and maintain in-country contacts including agencies, attorneys and foreign authorities.

Harden Jackson, LLC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. As effective and experienced litigators, the attorneys work with clients to develop strategies for negotiating settlements, while always preparing for litigation if necessary. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption and reproductive law matters.

Press Contact:
Leah Potter
HARDEN JACKSON LLC
11450 N. Meridian, Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email: lpotter@hardenjacksonlaw.com
Web site: www.hardenjacksonlaw.com

For Immediate Release

MICHELE JACKSON NAMED IN INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL'S FORTY UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2013

CARMEL, IN - February 7th, 2013 -. Attorney Michele Jackson, who chairs the Harden Jackson Law's Adoption and Reproductive Law Practice Group, received the Indianapolis Business Journal's Forty Under 40 award. The award recognizes professionals younger than 40 years of age for service in their jobs and in the community.

Michele Jackson chairs the firm's Adoption and Reproductive Law Practice Group and focuses her practice in domestic and international adoptions as well as reproductive law matters. Jackson is also the founding Executive Director of MLJ Adoptions, Inc.

In addition to her professional contributions, Jackson also founded the Global Orphan Foundation (formerly the Fatherless Foundation), a not-for-profit organization which raises funds and provides supplies to orphanages world-wide.

Harden Jackson, LLC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. As effective and experienced litigators, the attorneys work with clients to develop strategies for negotiating settlements, while always preparing for litigation if necessary. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption and reproductive law matters. For more information, please contact Leah Potter at 317.569.0770 or www.hardenjacksonlaw.com .

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Attorney, Michele Jackson, a founder of HARDEN JACKSON, LLC where she serves as Chair of the Adoption & Reproductive Law Practice Group and concentrates her law practice in adoption, surrogacy, and international family law gives information about the different ways to adopt and considerations for each type.
There are several types of adoption that you may want to consider. The following is general information about adoption that may assist you making a decision regarding whether or not to pursue an adoption for your family.

Domestic Agency Adoption:

1. Agency finds birth mother and matches you with her.
2. Agency assist in counseling and preparations for the adoption.
3. You will need an adoption attorney to assist you with the legal aspects of the adoption.
4. Generally you have a relationship prior to adoption and possibly post adoption with the birth mother/family.
5. You generally have good social and medical history on the child.
6. Birth mother can only consent to adoption post birth and her consent is vital for the success of the adoption.
7. Cost is between $20,000-40,000 all expenses.

Foster-to-Adopt:

1. Child is a ward of the state and the state must qualify you to adopt and match you to child.
2. Child has been a victim of abuse or neglect.
3. There is typically some type of contact with biological family pre-adoption and possibly post-adoption.
4. Child may not be an infant.
5. Child may not qualify for adoption and be reunited with their birth family, depending upon when in the process you decide to be involved.
6. You generally have good social and medical history on the child.
7. Cost is minimal and there could be subsidies to assist with any of the costs.

Private Domestic Adoption:

1. You have found your own birth mother.
2. You need an adoption attorney to complete your adoption.
3. Contact with the birth family may happen pre-adoption and post-adoption.
4. You generally have good social and medical history on the child.
5. Cost is between $5,000-16,000.

International Adoption:

1. Your agency matches you with a child in another country.
2. You need an agency to complete your adoption (which includes legal services of an attorney).
3. You have little to no contact with birth family.
4. Country qualifications and requirements must be met for adoption to be completed.
5. You may know little to no information regarding social and medical history of the child.
6. Cost is between $25,000-40,000.

Costs are typical and not specific to your agency or adoption. In addition, this is general information and should be considered legal advice or specific to your situation. It is important to know that an adoption should always be completed in Court and you should not assume you have adopted your child without a Decree of Adoption from a Court. I highly recommend using an experienced adoption agency and adoption attorney.

Find out more about Harden Jackson Law's adoption services here.

At Harden Jackson LLC, our practice is devoted to servicing clients throughout the Indianapolis area and the state of Indiana in all areas of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, property division, adoption and surrogacy.

A picture is worth 1000 words? These two photos tell a story about an adoption journey.

In the first picture, beautiful baby Alyssa is sick and malnourished.

After Alyssa found her forever family, she is thriving. Happy, healthy and LOVED.

Are you considering adoption? Our Adoption Practice Group routinely assists clients in a number of domestic and international matters. We also handle step-parent and relative (i.e. grandparent) adoptions.

Michele Jackson appeared on Indianapolis Lifestyle show, Indy Style, this morning to discuss the laws around domestic and international adoption in Indiana. Jackson also gives some information on Indiana's celebration of National Adoption Day on November 8th at the City County Building.

November is adoption month

Indiana will be celebrating National Adoption Day on November 8, 2012 at the Marion County Courthouse. The event is cosponsored by the Children's Bureau. In collaboration with local DCS offices, adoption attorneys and private adoption agencies are finalizing adoptions and holding receptions for adoptive families. There will be food, vendor booths, adoption information and free family portraits for those who attend. All families who have adopted or are interested in adoption are welcome to attend.

Attorney Michele Jackson, who sat on the event planning committee, will be speaking at various times throughout the day about her professional plight in assisting orphans around the world and her personal plight of adopting. Ms. Jackson will attend two adoption finalization hearings in the courthouse, which will be celebrated among others.

There will be media presence and media outlets are encouraged to attend. The event will be from 10:00am-4:00pm at Indianapolis Marion County Building, 200 E. Washington Street, 17th Floor. Vendors will be located on the first floor beginning at 11:30.

Ms. Jackson is a founder of HARDEN JACKSON, LLC where she serves as Chair of the Adoption & Reproductive Law Practice Group and concentrates her law practice in adoption, surrogacy, and international family law. Her practice includes representation for expectant (birth) or adoptive parents, as well as step-parent and second parent adoptions. Additionally, Ms. Jackson represents intended parents or surrogates in gestational surrogacy arrangements and other Assisted Reproductive matters such as egg donor agreements. She is routinely sought for her knowledge and experience regarding issues in international adoptions and international family law and has extensive experience with children in the United States and orphans worldwide. Ms. Jackson has dedicated herself to the adoption of orphans worldwide, while assisting couples and individuals to realize their dreams of becoming parents. Her commitment includes traveling to countries to develop and maintain in-country contacts including agencies, attorneys and foreign authorities.

Harden Jackson, LLC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. As effective and experienced litigators, the attorneys work with clients to develop strategies for negotiating settlements, while always preparing for litigation if necessary. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption and reproductive law matters. For more information, please contact Leah Potter at 317.569.0770 or www.hardenjacksonlaw.com.

Michele Jackson discussing Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Law and the laws pertaining to Indiana on Indy Style.

Family Law and Assisted Reproductive Technology