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Ethical Adoption Practices Ethical Considerations Support Services

A Legal Assistant’s Perspective

Sometimes, I found myself in a position where clients or other people involved in a case would talk to me about their apprehension, frustration, or sadness surrounding the situation. I struggled with knowing “what to say.” I realized, though, that my response often mattered less than the fact that I was listening actively and attentively. 

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Adoption Support Groups Counseling for Birth Parents Open Adoption Support Services Types of Adoption

Adoption Placement Gifts for Birth Parents

A question I am often asked is what sort of gift or token is appropriate to give to an expectant/birth parent when meeting for the first time or when saying a physical goodbye at the time of placement. Its such an emotional moment, such an important moment, and how on earth do you contain that […]

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Adoption Law Adoption Legal Procedures Birth Father Rights Termination of Parental Rights

A Guide to the Responsible Father Registry

Also called the “Putative Father Registry,” the Responsible Father Registry is a free database in which a man who has potentially fathered a child with a woman to whom he is not married can ensure that he receives notice of a possible adoption involving the child. The biological father can file before or after the […]

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About TD Law Group

Staff Spotlight: Vicki Morrison, Admin

Vicki graduated from Spartanburg Methodist College in 1978 with an Associate’s Degree in Business and has worked with the JFT team as a paralegal and other various capacities since 2001. With over 30 years of experience in the legal field, Vicki continues to be a valuable asset to Thompson Dove Law Group! During her role […]

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About TD Law Group

Staff Spotlight: Kari Valentine, Paralegal

  What is a favorite/most rewarding part of your job? Building Families and Saving Lives! Making a Difference. After a successful trial, I feel that is just what happens. Many of the families that we serve are foster families that have been involved in a very long, heartbreaking, and complicated case with the Department of Social […]

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About TD Law Group

Staff Spotlight: Jim Thompson, Attorney

Get to know our very own attorney, James Fletcher Thompson, or as most know him, Jim. You can read Jim’s professional bio here, but today, get to know a little more of the person you’d meet across the table if you came to our Spartanburg office for help with adoption, assisted reproduction, or a civil […]

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About TD Law Group

Staff Spotlight: Paula Richardson, Intake Coordinator

Paula joined our team as Client Intake Coordinator in September of 2019. You can find her professional bio here, but today is more about getting to who Paula is and why she chose this line of work. Here are her answers to a few get-to-know-you questions we asked: What’s a problem or barrier in your area […]

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About TD Law Group

Staff Spotlight: Lauren Dove, LMSW

Lauren joined our team in August of 2015. You can find her professional bio here, but today is more about getting to who Lauren is and why she chose this line of work. Here are her answers to a few get-to-know-you questions we asked:  What is a favorite/most rewarding part of your job?  The most […]

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Counseling for Birth Parents Domestic Adoption Ethical Considerations Open Adoption Postadoption Services Support Services Transparency in Adoption Types of Adoption

When Openness Doesn’t Happen in Adoption

Here at Thompson Dove, we’ve been fortunate to witness many, many adoption situations advance beautifully and smoothly. One complicated aspect of adoption is that it brings together a handful of complete strangers – often in painful or vulnerable seasons of life – and asks them to commit to moving forward in a forever kind of way. Sometimes this pans out easily, but often each party’s expectations and hopes will be unmet throughout each season.

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Adoption Benefits Adoption Information Adoption Support Groups Open Adoption Support Services Types of Adoption

An Open Adoption Q&A [Kristen]

1.     How do you define the moment when you first became a mother? Many moments stand out for me when I think about our adoption journeys.  First, making the decision to choose adoption and sharing the plan with our family and friends.   Secondly, starting the ‘work’: meeting with our social worker,  reading the literature, and connecting […]

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