Business Details
Trusted Adoption and ART Legal Services in Rockville, MD
Jennifer Fairfax is a client-centered legal practice dedicated to family-building through adoption, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Our attorneys bring decades of collective experience in guiding clients through complex legal processes in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We specialize in private, agency, and second-parent adoptions, surrogacy contracts, birth order establishment, and donor agreements, ensuring all parties' rights are protected.Our team advocates for ethical, transparent representation for diverse family structures, including LGBTQ+ couples, single parents, and international adoptees. With expertise in interstate and ICWA cases, we provide comprehensive legal solutions tailored to each client's unique journey to parenthood.
Services
Adoption Legal Services
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Law
Surrogacy Contracts
Birth Order Establishment
Second Parent Adoption
Step-Parent Adoption
International Re-Adoption
Birth Parent Representation
Interstate Adoption (ICPC)
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Cases
Highlights and features
- We have decades of experience in adoption and ART law across three jurisdictions.
- Our team provides client-centered representation for diverse family structures.
- We handle complex cases including ICWA, ICPC, and international re-adoption.
- Our attorneys are recognized speakers at national adoption and ART conferences.
- We offer comprehensive legal guidance from initial consultation to finalization.
Associations and certifications
- Maryland State Bar Foundation
Services
Adoption Legal Services
We provide comprehensive legal representation for all adoption types including private, agency, and second-parent adoptions across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Our attorneys guide clients through consent processes, revocation periods, and court finalization while protecting all parties' rights. With expertise in interstate and ICWA cases, we ensure legally secure family-building solutions for diverse clients.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Law
Our firm specializes in legal matters related to surrogacy, egg/sperm donation, and embryo transfers. We draft and review contracts, obtain pre-birth orders, and ensure intended parents' names appear on birth certificates. With jurisdiction-specific expertise in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, we protect clients' parental rights through all stages of the ART process.
Surrogacy Contracts
We represent both intended parents and gestational carriers in negotiating legally binding surrogacy agreements. Our attorneys ensure all parties understand their rights and obligations while complying with state-specific regulations. We handle contract modifications, dispute resolution, and post-birth legal processes to establish parental rights.
Birth Order Establishment
Our team secures pre-birth and post-birth court orders to establish legal parentage for children born via surrogacy. We manage the entire process from document preparation to court submission, ensuring intended parents' names appear on original birth certificates in compliance with Maryland and DC laws.
Second Parent Adoption
We specialize in second-parent adoptions for same-sex couples in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Our attorneys navigate jurisdiction-specific requirements to secure full parental rights through judicial determination, providing legal protection for non-biological parents in LGBTQ+ families.
People
Catelyn Slattery
Attorney
Recognized speaker on adoption and ART law with extensive experience in family-building legal processes across three jurisdictions. Awarded 2013 Legal Excellence Award by Maryland State Bar Foundation.
LeAnn Hoffman
Attorney
Experienced family law attorney specializing in adoption, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology cases. Active participant in national conferences on ART and adoption legal frameworks.
Questions
What adoption services do you offer?
We handle private, agency, second-parent, and step-parent adoptions in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, including interstate and ICWA cases.
Do you handle surrogacy legal matters?
Yes, we draft surrogacy contracts, obtain birth orders, and ensure parental rights establishment for intended parents across all three jurisdictions.
Can unmarried same-sex couples adopt in Virginia?
Married same-sex couples can complete step-parent adoptions; unmarried couples may pursue second-parent adoptions in DC if the child was born there after July 2009.
What birth parent expenses can be covered?
In Maryland and Virginia, reasonable living expenses with medical documentation; DC only allows medical, counseling, and legal expense coverage for birth parents.
