Posts Tagged ‘Michele Jackson’
February 3rd, 2012 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Family Law, General Law, Surrogacy
In recent news, a sperm donor has led to a topic of debate regarding the need to regulate the number of children each sperm donor should be allowed to father. There is growing concern among parents, donors and medical experts about potential negative consequences of having so many children fathered by the same donor, including the possibility that genes for rare diseases could be spread more widely through the population. Another concern is the increased odds of accidental incest between half sisters and half brothers, who often live close to one another.
Critics say that fertility clinics and sperm banks are earning huge profits by allowing too many children to be conceived with sperm from popular donors, and that families should be given more information on the health of donors and the children conceived with their sperm. They also desire legal limits on the number of children conceived using the same donor’s sperm and a re-examination of the anonymity that cloaks many donors.
Although other countries, including Britain, France and Sweden, limit how many children a sperm donor can father, there is no such limit in the United States. There are only guidelines issued by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), a professional group that recommends restricting conceptions by individual donors to 25 births per population of 800,000.
The number of children born through sperm donation is unknown. The estimated number is between 30,000-60,000, perhaps even more. Mothers of donor children are asked to voluntarily report a child’s birth to the sperm bank, but an estimated 20-40% of them actually report the birth. Most families turn to the registry’s web site, donorsiblingregistry.com, for more information about a child’s half brother or half sisters.
The donors are given a number that identifies them and the children or families can look up how many siblings they have if they registered on the website identifying that donor number as their father also.
There are certainly competing interests at stake: the privacy of the sperm donor and the genetic or mental health concerns of the donor child, as well as concerns that the donor’s offspring will be a result of incest relationships and pose health concerns to those fetuses. The question of whose interests win out is still to be decided.
One major issue of liability and child support still remains in many states. Many states do not use the resources of a lawyer with known or unknown sperm donation arrangements. Often the sperm bank (or clinics) use consents and releases to add protection and limit liabilities in the arraignment. In recent years, there has been cases in which sperm donors that did not have a contract or agreement in place, were deemed financially responsible for the child as well as the intended parent(s). While this area of law is still “grey”, it is a hot topic to discuss amongst assisted reproduction professionals (medical and legal). A word to the wise, protect yourself and be sure that the medical facility, doctors, donors and recipients are all aware of the need for legal analysis of the sperm donation arrangement.
Tags: ART, contracts, Michele Jackson, sperm donor
January 31st, 2012 | Posted by Leah | Posted in General Law, Surrogacy
The attorneys at Harden Jackson LLC are dedicated to helping both couples and individuals achieve the dream of building a family. We understand that creating a family through surrogacy may seem daunting. However, we are eager to provide sound legal representation about an often confusing and emotional area of the law.
WHAT IS SURROGACY?
Surrogacy is a method of reproduction whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver the child for a contracted party.
A Traditional Surrogate is genetically related to the child she is carrying, as she is both the Egg Donor and the Surrogate. This option is not a recommended method due to the ethical, medical and legal complications involved.
A Gestational Surrogate has no genetic link to the child she is carrying. Rather, the egg is provided by either the Intended Mother or an Egg Donor. To begin a Gestational Surrogacy, the Intended Mother or Egg Donor will participate in an egg retrieval process. The eggs of the Intended Mother or Egg Donor are then mixed with the sperm of the Intended Father or Sperm Donor to create an embryo. Finally, one or more of these embryos are implanted within the Gestational Surrogate via In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
FINDING A SURROGATE, EGG DONOR, AND/OR SPERM DONOR
Generally, Gestational Surrogacy arrangements are set up by Surrogacy and Donation Agencies that match you with a Surrogate, Egg Donor, and/or Sperm Donor. Should you require the services of an Agency, Surrogate, Egg Donor, and/or Sperm Donor you will enter into a separate contractual relationship with each party. Harden Jackson LLC works with numerous professionals who specialize in Gestational Surrogacy and Egg/Sperm Donation, and we will gladly refer you to an Agency that meets your needs. In the event that you are already working with an Agency, we are happy to coordinate with the existing Agency to provide your legal services.
If you have already found a suitable Surrogate, Egg Donor, and/or Sperm Donor, you may choose to proceed without the assistance of an Agency. This type of arrangement is typically referred to as an Independent Surrogacy.
Keep in mind that Gestational Surrogacy is a complex process which is difficult to accomplish successfully without expert assistance. Working with an Agency can often reduce stress, as the Agency will find a qualified Surrogate, source an egg and sperm donor (if necessary), guide you through the medical and psychological components, and provide you support.
RESOURCES
Generally, Gestational Surrogacy is a four-pronged process. Intended Parents typically work with an attorney, a counseling service, a medical provider, and a Surrogacy and Donation Agency. Before you begin the surrogacy process, understand that you will be faced with legal, psychological, and medical issues. By entering into these four relationships, you will receive expert assistance in each component of the surrogacy process. Our office is happy to provide intended parents with a list of recommended counseling, medical, and Agency providers. Before entering in a contract with an agency and committing sums, we suggest you consult with an attorney at the beginning of the process to have the contract with the agency reviewed prior to execution.
SURROGACY LAW
Surrogacy law is a relatively new field, and we recognize that the laws may seem confusing. It is important to note that surrogacy laws vary by state. In fact, surrogacy agreements are prohibited in several states. Indiana law currently holds that all surrogacy contracts are against public policy and are unenforceable. However, Indiana law does not prohibit the act of surrogacy itself and recent rulings by the courts in Indiana have been favorable to surrogacy. It is essential that you consult with an attorney prior to entering into a contract to understand the legal and financial risks associated with the surrogacy process.
Do not enter into an agreement with a Surrogate, Egg Donor, and/or Sperm Donor until you have confirmed the laws of the state in which you, the Surrogate, Egg Donor, and/or Sperm Donor reside
MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL RISKS
While the surrogacy process is truly thrilling, it is necessary to consider the risks associated with entering into a surrogacy relationship. There is a possibility that the pregnancy may result in a caesarian section, which may subsequently cause a painful and long recovery for the Surrogate. Potentially, additional fees may be incurred to compensate the Surrogate for her pain and suffering, as well as for increased medical expenses.
The risk of premature birth or even fetal death is also present. Further, a variety of other medical expenses may be incurred whereby the Surrogate could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering. An example of an added expense is the invasive procedure, amniocentesis, which may cause the Surrogate significant discomfort. It is important to contemplate these risks and to create a plan for how you might deal with these situations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As Intended Parents, both you and the Surrogate will have responsibilities associated with the surrogacy relationship. The Surrogate will be responsible for attending medical appointments and providing you medical release information. You, in turn, will be responsible for prompt payment of expenses as set forth in the contract. Further, the Surrogate may be prohibited from engaging in certain activities pursuant to your agreement. It is advisable to maintain open communication with the Surrogate throughout the various stages of the surrogacy relationship.
If you have any questions on Surrogacy or Egg Donation, please contact our office at 317.569.0770 or www.hardenjacksonlaw.com.
Harden Jackson LLC’s services are focused in Gestational Surrogacy. We do not assist in contractual arrangements for traditional surrogacy arrangements. If you are involved in a traditional surrogacy, we will provide legal services for the adoption process.
Tags: Michele Jackson, surrogacy, surrogate
January 9th, 2012 | Posted by Amber Small | Posted in Adoption
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
Harden Jackson Law Founding Partner, Michele Jackson Adopts from Africa
CARMEL, IN – January 6, 2012 – For the past twelve years, Michele L. Jackson, founding member of HARDEN JACKSON, LLC, has educated herself on the adoption process and helped many clients fulfill their dream of becoming parents. Recently, her professional expertise helped her realize that dream for herself. Jackson said, “For as long as I can remember I have wanted to adopt. In recent years, this desire tugged at my heart constantly. In my work, I had walked past thousands of orphans in desperate situations and I knew that one day I would personally adopt.” Her dream came true when she and her husband, CFO of WellPoint, Wayne DeVeydt adopted two beautiful baby boys from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Having taught many seminars to adoptive parents and adoption professionals and attorneys, she thought she knew what to expect while adopting. While one personal adoption does not represent the entire spectrum of adoption experiences and outcomes, her empathy with the turmoil her clients have gone through in not having “control” of the process certainly increased. Despite her credentials, expertise and experience; she could not control all entities and aspects of the international adoptions process. Her experience and knowledge about “worst case scenarios” prepared her intellectually for the journey, but the worry, anxiety, excitement and love were profound nonetheless. The problems through which she had guided so many others were now her own. She had seen them, she had solved them, but personally dealing with them was another matter. She had to, as she had advised her clients over the years, simply relax, trust and pray.
Jackson adds, “International adoption has myriad unknowns, risks and delays. There are unsuccessful adoptions, delayed adoptions and difficult adoptions. However, I can say with absolute certainty that it is Worth It!”
Jackson works around the world placing children from many different countries. So, why choose DRCongo? Jackson explains, “I’d always had a personal view of my child as being from Latin America. My mind was changed as I walked through the orphanages in Congo. My heart was changed forever and so was the mental picture of my family.”
“The children of the world, from any country, are beautiful children of God. If you have the love to give to give an orphan, you also give hope within the larger human community. Without question, sharing your love and family with a child in need is worth all the amount of worry, concern and anxiety. I am the lucky one.”
A highly regarded legal authority in international family law and adoption, Michele L. Jackson is a founding member of HARDEN JACKSON, LLC. She represents clients interested in domestic or international adoption, and those who are seeking alternative reproductive options such as gestational surrogacy.
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Tags: Democratic Republic of Congo adoption, Michele Jackson, Wayne DeVeydt
May 20th, 2011 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption, Family Law, General Law
Today, Japan’s cabinet, under Prime Minister Naoto Kan, endorsed a plan to adopt the Hague Treaty regarding international child custody issues. The decision resulted from foreign pressure to revise policies which many critics have said favored Japanese mothers and allowed them to easily take children away from foreign fathers.
The adoption of the treaty will require changes in Japanese law to bring the country in line with the 1980 Hague Convention on international abduction, said Yusuke Asakura, an official at the Cabinet Office.
Japan is the only nation in the industrialized Group of Seven which hasn’t signed the Hague pact. Asakura said the Cabinet’s proposal must be adopted by Parliament for it to take effect, and there is concern there may be some resistance by members.
The United States, Britain, France and other countries have repeatedly urged Japan to join the Hague convention and recognize the international law.
Japanese law allows only one parent to have custody of children in divorce cases – nearly always the mother. The law has prevented many foreign fathers from seeing their children until they are grown. Japanese mothers living abroad have taken advantage of the law by returning to Japan in divorce proceedings – a move that is prohibited in countries which are parties to the Hague Treaty. Activists say Japan’s court system is biased against fathers and foreigners.
The Hague Treaty requires that custody decisions are made by the courts in a child’s original country of residence and ensures protection of both parents’ rights to equal access.
Japan’s failure to join the Hague convention has been an issue in other cases but most recently received significant media attention in 2009 when an American father, Christopher Savoie, was arrested and jailed in Japan after he attempted to retrieve his children from his ex-wife, Noriko Savoie, who had taken the children from Tennessee to her native Japan. Noriko had accused Christopher of abducting the children, despite the fact that he had been granted custody by the U.S. family court handling the parties’ divorce. Under Hague laws, custody decisions belonged in the children’s country of origin, the United States, and Noriko’s unauthorized move of the children to Japan was the actual abduction.
With the media flurry and public backlash, Japanese prosecutors eventually dropped the case against Christopher Savoie.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken out on a number of abduction cases involving children born in the US, including the Sean Goldman case in Brazil which ultimately resulted in the successful reunion of Sean with his father, after years of frustrating litigation and denials by the Brazilian government to comply with Hague. The publicity surrounding the Goldman and Savoie cases influenced the U.S. House of Representatives to apply more pressure on Japan by voting overwhelmingly for a nonbinding resolution that “condemns the abduction and retention” of children held in Japan “in violation of their human rights and United States and international law.” In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Japan, and the nation’s need for international aid and support, it appears that the Japanese government may finally adopt the Hague Treaty.
Tags: abduction, adoption, child custody, family law, international family law, Michele Jackson
June 16th, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
Fox59 Interviews Michele Jackson about options and risks for adopting from Haiti. JHDJ Law and MLJ Adoptions host an Open House at MLJ Adoption to announce the launch of the new adoption program in Haiti.
The images showing the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Haiti left many Hoosiers wanting to lend a helping hand. Now, they have the chance to adopt children from that country.
JHDJ Law is holding an open house Wednesday at MLJ Adoptions, 8910 Purdue Road, One College Park, Ste 480 in Indianapolis. Families can learn about adopting Haitian orphans and other children. The even runs from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.
Watch the complete interview on the video link below:
Adopting from Haiti
Tags: Amber Burton Small, Michele Jackson
June 3rd, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JHDJ Law
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC (JHDJ LAW) is partnering with MLJ Adoptions, to celebrate the opening of their new adoption program in Haiti. The media and public are invited to this special event:
Wednesday, June 16th 5-8pm
MLJ Adoptions
8910 Purdue Road
One College Park, Ste 480
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Due to the overwhelming outpouring of compassion after the devastating earthquake, and the changes in the adoption process, JHDJ Law realized there was an immediate need to create a program that would be simplified for families interested in adopting from Haiti. After a recent trip to Haiti to visit several orphanages, MLJ Program Director, Lydia Tarr, and JHDJ partner Michele Jackson are ready to start finding families for all the beautiful children they met on their journey. JHDJ Law has completed several successful independent adoptions previously from Haiti.
Join us for a come-and-go open house. Light refreshments will be provided. Hear stories and see pictures and video from the recent trip to Haiti. Meet the staff of JHDJ Law, including Michele Jackson and Director of Business Development, Amber Burton Small, as well as MLJ Adoptions Program Director, Lydia Tarr, and Director of Adoption Preparation, Brooke Randolph, LMHC, who can answer questions about the home study process, trauma in children, and attachment concerns. There will also be a t-shirt giveaway during the open house.
The group will also share what was learned regarding the recent changes to the adoption process in Haiti following the earthquakes, and provide information on how to start the adoption process. Children of all ages are available for adoption from Haiti. A referral of a newborn is possible; however, the child will be 12-18 months old by the time he or she arrives home. One parent must be at least 35 years old to adopt from Haiti. Couples married ten years or longer are eligible to adopt from Haiti. Single women without any other children may also adopt; however, they only must be at least 30 years old. Haiti also requires a statement of Christian faith and a letter of reference from a pastor before you will be approved to adopt from Haiti.
Further, a donor grant from The Fatherless Foundation is available for the first five clients to start the Haitian adoption program. In addition, the Fatherless Foundation is discussing the possibility of a service trip to Haiti in the next year that would be open to all. http://www.thefatherlessfoundation.org/
http://www.JHDJ-Law.com
http://www.mljadoptions.com/
http://www.thefatherlessfoundation.org/
Tags: Amber Burton Small, Michele Jackson
May 24th, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
On May 12, 2010, Adoption Attorney Michele Jackson and Adoption Coordinator Amber Burton Small of Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson traveled to Haiti with 2 representatives of MLJ Adoptions, Inc. and The Fatherless Foundation to visit orphanages and deliver supplies. During their brief stay, they visited 4 different orphanages in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Tomasin, and Fermathe to meet with directors to assess the facilities’ needs and discuss resuming adoptions from Haiti. What follows is Amber’s recounting of the experience.
Part 1/Day 1
Since news broke of the earthquake in January, JHDJ Law has closely followed the situation in Haiti and monitored communication from agencies, media and the US State Department regarding conditions. Our interest in Haiti was not new – Indiana has a very prominent presence in Haiti through the many ministries and orphanages affiliated with Indiana-based churches. Plus, we had clients who were in the process of an independent adoption from Haiti and our first concerns were to find out if their son was safe. Michele even serves on a local charitable board which supports an orphanage in Haiti and her own nonprofit foundation provides orphanage relief and support.
We immediately began to strategize how we could best help. Meetings were hastily assembled and resources accessed, favors called in. We were on the forefront of the media flurry that occurred in the ensuing days when plans were circulating about orphans potentially coming to Indiana who needed host and/or adoptive families. Throughout the months, our focus was to travel to Haiti personally. We knew we would have to wait some time to allow for immediate disaster relief services. We grimly watched news about child-trafficking and were appalled by the scandal involving the Baptists from Iowa – regardless of their sincerity or naïveté, as legitimate adoption professionals we knew their actions had actually harmed thousands of orphans because of the repercussions and backlash damaging the reputation of international adoption would grind the adoption process to a halt. Children would remain in unsafe conditions because of the fallout and increased scrutiny. In the wake of everything, we were now embarking for Haiti. We are not inexperienced travelers and we have seen extreme poverty. However, despite the startling images which have inundated us through the media, we were not prepared for the devastation we encountered when we arrived in Haiti.
Our long day of travel began with a flight departure of 5:20. The only luggage we checked contained clothing, medicine and other donations for the orphanages. Multiple flights and connections wearied before we arrived in Port-au-Prince at 3:15 in the afternoon and we ruminated about what we could expect once we arrived. As our plane approached the island, at first it simply looked like any other lush, green Caribbean island, until we began to descend over Port-au-Prince and could begin to see the destruction. I was speechless as the enormity of it began to sink in. Images and video cannot adequately convey it until you see it firsthand.
Disembarking from the plane, we walked down a long corridor and could hear a steel drum band playing to welcome us. Typical of the Caribbean, it made me smile. But as I looked out the windows of the corridor, I could see the guy wires which had been secured to the terminal building to reinforce it-celebration sounds in a mostly empty, damaged building. At the end of the corridor, our group boarded a shuttle which took us to a different building for immigration and baggage claim. Inside that structure was a combination of order and bedlam. Without much instruction and without an overload of signage (in stark contrast to airports at the U.S.), people fell into line as they awaited immigration control. That was an orderly process which seemed rather perfunctory – but I admired the beautiful stamp the officer affixed in my passport to which he added an exaggerated signature. From that point, we were in the midst of a baggage claim system which looked more like a Black Friday sale. Hundreds of people crowded around a crude baggage conveyor belt awaiting luggage as porters in uniform attempted to grab bags to assist tourists. As soon as they saw Americans, they were especially eager, and I listened to their excited chatter in a combination of French, English and Creole. The heat was stifling and the noise nearly deafening as we strained to see through the partition to the contents on the carts loaded with bags pulling up outside. We waited and waited and finally sighed with relief as all of ours arrived. We stacked them on a cart and began to maneuver through the sea of people, the noise making it difficult to communicate. I pulled at the front of our cart, half-backing out as I steered us toward the exit. I assumed once we were outside, it would be much easier to assess our situation. I was wrong.
Exiting the airport doors, I saw even more commotion and a sea of people, with no sign of any kind of pick-up/drop-off lane to which we are accustomed. I searched vainly for a sign identifying our driver, Jean-Claude. We were immediately rushed by a number of taxi drivers and more porters attempting to “help” us, all competing for a chance for a tip. I told several no or explained that we had a driver and were waiting for someone. Although my French is very good, my ears were trying to adjust to the accent and the jumble of the mix of languages. After several minutes, we realized that our driver wasn’t there, nor were our cell phones working (despite a certain cell phone company’s assurances they would). One of the porters saw our frustrated attempts to call and offered his phone to help. We had no choice but to relinquish and accept the offer. He called our driver and found out he was close, but the traffic had delayed him (we would soon learn why). Despite the fact we had “selected” a porter, we were still besieged by others attempting to assist us, their persistence bewildering us, but it spoke of their desperation. Finally, our host and chauffeur, an orphanage director and minister, Jean-Claude Pierre, arrived. His presence immediately provided a bit more order as he obviously commanded some respect among the porters and taxi drivers and they realized we did indeed have a local representative. He corralled everything and we began following him through the throng of people. The scene on the street outside the airport was just as chaotic, as it became apparent that pedestrians risk life and limb and we began to get a taste for the traffic and driving in Haiti.
We had to walk a block to where Jean-Claude had his vehicle parked. Bags were transferred and we took our seats, mine in the front to help translate as needed. Jean-Claude admonished us to lock our doors and we sighed with relief at the air-conditioning in his vehicle. Just the short walk in the humid conditions was a bit much as we had left much cooler temps in Indiana. Jean-Claude expertly began maneuvering through the disorder on the streets. As the crush of people thinned and we entered regular traffic just outside the airport we saw the first of the tent cities. Again, the magnitude of the devastation was just beginning to be revealed to us.
We questioned Jean-Claude to become more acquainted with him and learn more about his perspective on the disaster and relief efforts. We also learned that the drive to Jacmel would take at least 4 hours. We were all stunned by this news. It is only 50 miles in distance, but we soon learned that travel in Haiti is slow and treacherous due to road conditions, volume of traffic and detours necessary because of the earthquake damage. Not to mention there is only one road connecting Port-au-Prince and Jacmel – and it is a winding passage through mountains, not for the faint of heart. As we entered Port-au-Prince, our cameras began whirring and clicking as we saw buildings toppled, some pancaked, others at rakish angles, some rubble piles barely resembling a structure at all. And everywhere there was debris. Debris and rubble blocked or narrowed streets. Traffic seemed to come from everywhere, and the word “flow” would not be an accurate description. It was more like a forward sludge, interrupted by staccato moments of quick dashes and life-risking rushes and turns. The colorful “tap-taps” seems to surround us. They are garishly decorated pick-up trucks and buses which serve as a form of public transportation. Some were so heavily painted and adorned they more closely resembled parade floats than taxis. Some tap-taps were so crammed full of people, it seemed a challenge to physics. Everywhere we looked, people were moving about. It was afternoon, and we began to see children dressed in uniforms as schools let out. Jean-Claude explained that each school had their own uniform and it was relief to see the schools opening again to give the children some sense of normalcy and routine. Given the turmoil in the country, it was one thing that made sense. We were all slightly shocked as we glanced over at one particular scene – an adult male, fully nude, lathered head to toe in soap, “bathing” in a filthy canal. He was obviously taking advantage of the only water source he had access too. We were more shocked by the sad choice of his bath water than his nudity. The water conditions and sources were appalling. Drainage ditches and canals were choked with trash, many of it obviously from relief programs (food cartons, water bottles and such). Trash disposal on any island is normally a delicate, difficult issue, but in a post-catastrophic situation, the urgency for a solution is even more apparent, but sadly often one of the first things ignored. The trash become critical as it fosters disease and pest issues.
As we wound our way through the city, over streets that barely qualified as such, we learned the value of the horn as a form of traffic control. There were few traffic devices and I never did quite decipher the rules for right-of-way. As we passed ruined building after ruined building and tent city after tent city, it all seemed to become blend – a certain numbness, as if our minds had seen it all and we were detaching due to the overwhelming nature of it. Then we passed by a section where shanties constructed of wood, aluminum and the ubiquitous blue tarp straddled the concrete median in the middle of the street! They had sprung up following the earthquake. How anyone could try to live in the middle of a congested roadway seems unfathomable to us. Then Jean-Claude would point out a building and tell us how many people had died in it and we’d gasp or murmur or comment on the sad loss. After passing a college where more than 300 had died, I asked Jean-Claude what had been done about the human remains. That is when he reminded us that most were still entombed in the buildings, unable to be retrieved or excavated since there was no equipment. We all grew quiet at this indignity. I asked him about the “official” estimates of the death toll of 250,000 and he confidently remarked he believed that was conservative and that 400,000 was a more likely number according to sources in country. My mind thought back to the tsunami and the death toll and how this had likely doubled that number. What a macabre comparison – which disaster killed more people? Any life lost is precious, but we do have to put things in perspective when assessing the social, cultural and financial impact of a tragedy. The loss of human life in U.S. weather disasters cannot even begin to compare to the loss in Haiti. And we’re a developed nation, with a population of over 307 million people, with a military, social services, a plethora of charities, churches and aid organizations, not to mention wealth and a powerful media. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world, with a population of 9 million, and 1/5 of that population now consists of displaced or orphaned children. We were all pondering the question: how does a country begin to rebuild when it has lost a significant number of its population and more than 2 million of its residents are children who cannot contribute to financial, political or social growth?
Tags: Amber Burton Small, Haitian Adoption, International Adoption, Michele Jackson
May 22nd, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
CARMEL, IN – May 22, 2010 –Adoption Attorney Michele Jackson was a guest of Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi on his weekly radio show, “Crime Beat” which airs Saturdays from 3-5 pm on WIBC 93.1. This was Jackson’s second appearance on the show to discuss issues regarding human and child trafficking and international adoption, and came on the heels of her trip the previous week to Haiti, where concerns about child trafficking in the wake of the earthquake have affected international adoptions from Haiti.
Jackson traveled to Bulgaria and Haiti in April and May, respectively, for her work in international adoption. Child and human trafficking have been issues in both countries, and Jackson’s efforts through her adoption work as well as The Fatherless Foundation, a nonprofit charity she founded, are to bring awareness to the issue and to help educate and provide resources to reduce the number of children at risk for victimization. Jackson also emphasizes the importance of working with Hague approved, licensed adoption agencies when considering international adoption.
Jackson is a founding member of Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson where she offers numerous legal services for domestic and international adoptions including private and agency adoptions, step-parent adoptions, second parent adoptions, and surrogacy contracts. In addition, Jackson offers other international family law services, including adoption contract reviews, international custody, abduction prevention, and orphan visa appeals. Jackson has been an Adjunct Law Professor at the IU School of Law, Indianapolis since January 2005, where she has taught classes on International Comparative Family Law and International Organizations Law. She has also directed seminars and Continuing Legal Education classes on topics such as “How to Pursue International Adoption,” “A Child Without a Family,” and “CHINS in Indiana.” A frequent speaker, Ms. Jackson has addressed audiences in Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Illinois.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption, mediation, and business litigation. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
Tags: Michele Jackson
May 18th, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
CARMEL, IN – May 18, 2010 –Adoption Attorney Michele Jackson and Adoption Coordinator Amber Burton Small of Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC (JHDJ Law) traveled to Haiti May 12-14, 2010 to visit orphanages and deliver supplies. During their stay, they visited 4 different orphanages in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Tomasin, and Fermathe and met with 5 different directors to assess the facilities’ needs and discuss resuming adoptions from Haiti.
Jackson and Small discovered that orphanages are still lacking many supplies. Two orphanages were destroyed, with children currently living in crowded, temporary housing while funds are sought to rebuild. Two other orphanages lack electricity and cooking must be done over open fires. Food, water and clothing are still in short supply, with many Haitians, including children, wearing ill-fitting shoes. Infant needs include diapers and electrolyte replacement fluids. Energy bars and water purification tablets are needed to distribute to Haitians living in tent cities. Progress in the rebuilding process is slow, as aid workers are still trying to address basic survival and medical needs. Volunteers revealed that equipment is not available for demolition of damaged structures. Many are working only with sledgehammers and shovels and no safety equipment despite exposure to hazardous materials. Trash, rubble, and debris line the streets and choke canals and drainage ditches.
Orphanage directors are hopeful that adoptions will continue, with focus on “Category 3” children – those orphaned prior to the earthquake. Those children have abandonment papers or evidence and may be matched with adoptive parents. While there is still uncertainty about the length of the process, it is believed that adoptions should be processed within 6 months to 1 year. Haiti had at least 390,000 orphans prior to the earthquake and estimates now indicate as many as 2 million children are displaced or orphaned. These children are at greater risk of being victimized, and trafficking has been known to occur since the earthquake. Legitimate international adoptions are one solution.
Jackson practices exclusively in adoption and surrogacy. Her services include private and agency domestic and international adoptions as well as step-parent and second parent adoptions. In addition, Jackson offers other international family law services, including adoption contract reviews, international custody, abduction prevention, and orphan visa appeals.
Small, a certified paralegal, serves as JHDJ Law’s Director of Business Development. She works with all prospective clients and manages public relations for the firm. As Adoption Coordinator, she helps match birth and adoptive parents and assists with domestication of foreign adoption decrees.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption, mediation, and business litigation. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
Tags: Amber Burton Small, Michele Jackson
April 28th, 2010 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption, Family Law
The April 28-May 11, 2010 issue of Indiana Lawyer includes a FOCUS section on Family Law. One of the featured articles is titled “Surrogacy Law at a Crossroads” and discusses the evolving area of surrogacy law in Indiana. The article focuses on the recent Indiana Court of Appeals ruling in In the Matter of the Paternity and Maternity of Infant R., No. 64A03-0908-JV-367. The case came about as a result of a trial court’s denial of an agreed petition to establish paternity and maternity in a case where a couple’s biological child was born to a surrogate, who was a carrier only. Indiana law presumes that the mother delivering the child is the biological mother, and the state’s current statutes do not provide a remedy for biological mothers to assert maternity in cases where their biological children are born to surrogates. The case highlights the antiquated nature of the state’s current paternity laws, which were crafted prior to in vitro fertilization and medical advances which have made surrogacy a growing practice. In her interview, Michele stated ‘“The case clearly identifies the rights of biological mothers that use a gestational surrogate to establish their maternity in a child…consistent with a father’s rights in establishing paternity.”’ To read the article in its entirety and more of Michele’s interview, visit the Indiana Lawyer website Indiana Lawyer.
While the state statutes still do not allow for enforceability of surrogacy contracts, the recent COA decision is a leap forward in acknowledging the demand for surrogacy services in Indiana and will hopefully lead to legislative changes to establish clear procedures and protect parties who wish to pursue surrogacy.
Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson offers legal services for individuals and couples exploring egg donation and gestational surrogacy agreements. Contact our office at 317-569-0770 for more information.
Tags: Michele Jackson