Practice areas
Seven paths to a legally whole family
Every family arrives a different way. Find yours below, or tell us your story on a free 20-minute call and we will point you to the right path.
- Agency and private adoption For families adopting through a licensed agency, privately (sometimes called independent adoption), or within the family. Agency adoption filings and consentsPrivate (independent) adoptionRelative and kinship adoption $3,500 to $12,000 · flat fee Read more
- Stepparent adoption For married or registered-partner families where a stepparent wants to adopt their partner's child. Adopting your spouse's or partner's childThe other parent agrees to signThe other parent can't be found $1,800 to $3,500 · flat fee Read more
- Second-parent and confirmatory adoption For couples, married or not, where one parent is not the birth or biological parent of the child they are raising together. Two moms after donor conceptionTwo dads, alongside a parentage judgmentMarried couples who want a judgment $2,200 to $4,000 · flat fee Read more
- Surrogacy agreements For intended parents of every shape, and for gestational surrogates who need a lawyer of their own. Intended parents with an agency matchIndependent journeys with a friend or relativeGay and single intended fathers $6,500 to $11,000 · flat fee for intended parents Read more
- Parentage orders For intended parents after surrogacy, donor-conceived families, and any parent who needs a court to confirm who the parents are. Pre-birth judgments after surrogacyPost-birth judgmentsDonor-conceived families $2,500 to $5,500 · flat fee Read more
- Donor agreements For intended parents working with a known egg or sperm donor, donors themselves, and adults planning to co-parent. Known sperm donorsKnown egg donorsEmbryo donation and disposition $1,500 to $3,000 · flat fee per side Read more
- LGBTQ+ divorce and custody For LGBTQ+ spouses, domestic partners and co-parents who are separating, and for any parent whose rights are being questioned. Divorce and legal separationEnding a registered domestic partnershipCustody and parenting plans $350 to $450 an hour · hourly Read more
- Not sure which path is yours? Most families aren't at first, and many need two paths, such as a donor agreement now and a parentage judgment later. One free call sorts it out. Book a free call
A quick guide
Which path fits?
A starting point, not advice. Your facts, and the state where you live, can change the answer.
- Your spouse or partner gave birth and you did not Second-parent adoption
- You are marrying, or married to, someone with a child Stepparent adoption
- A surrogate will carry your baby Surrogacy
- You are a surrogate and need your own lawyer Surrogacy
- A friend or relative will be your donor Donor agreements
- A baby is due and you need to be named as a parent Parentage orders
- An agency placement is planned, or you are fostering Adoption
- You are separating and worried about your rights Divorce and custody
Rules differ by place
We practice California law. If you live in, or a child will be born in, another state or country, the rules there can be very different. When that happens we work alongside licensed local counsel.
What we never do
We do not match families with children, birth parents, surrogates or donors, and we never arrange or pay for a placement. Licensed agencies and clinics do matching. We handle the law.
Free 20-minute call
Two minutes to tell us your story.
Pick a path in the form, or choose 'Not sure yet'. Dee will book a free 20-minute call with the attorney who fits best.
Prefer to text? (510) 555-0163. Dee replies within one business day.