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Grasping Fatherhood In Abortion And Adoption, Malinda L. Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

Biology makes a mother, but it does not make a father. While a mother is a legal parent by reason of her biological relationship with her child, a father is not a legal parent unless he takes affirmative steps to grasp fatherhood. Being married to the mother at the time of conception or at the time of birth is one of those affirmative steps. But if he is not married to the mother, he must do far more before he will be legally recognized as a father. Biology is often presented as a sufficient reason for this dichotomy--it is easy …

Grasping Fatherhood In Abortion And Adoption.Pdf, Malinda L. Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

Openness In International Adoption, Malinda L. Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

After a long history of secrecy in domestic adoption in the United States, there is a robust trend toward openness. That is, however, not the case with international adoption. The recent growth in international adoption has been spurred, at least in part, by the desire of adoptive parents to return to closed, confidential adoptions where the identity of the birth mother is secret and there is no ongoing contact with her. There is, however, an emergent interest in increased openness in international adoption, spurred by the success of domestic open adoptions, health concerns when an adoptee's genetic history is important, …

Sixteen And Pregnant: Minors' Consent In Abortion And Adoption, Malinda L. Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

A minor girl’s decision about how to handle an unplanned pregnancy is a highly contested issue. Especially contentious is the minor’s ability to consent to an abortion independently of an adult such as her parents or a judge. That issue has received substantial attention from policy makers, scholars, judges, and legislators. Almost no attention has been paid, however, to the decision of a pregnant minor to continue her pregnancy, relinquish her constitutionally protected parental rights, and place a child for adoption. In 37 states, a minor’s abortion decision is regulated differently than an adult’s, while in only 15 states is …

16 & Pregnant: Minors’ Consent To Abortion & Adoption, Malinda Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

Openness In International Adoption: Legalities & Practicalities, Malinda Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

Current Issues In International Adoption, Malinda Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore

International Comity & International Adoption: When Is International Adoption “Repugnant?, Malinda Seymore

Malinda L. Seymore