Maryland couple successfully adopts a two-and-a-half-year-old boy who has been in the neglect system for more than two years

Client(s) CT and AW

SS is a two-and-half-year-old boy who has been in the Washington, D.C., neglect system for more than two years. Despite the assistance offered by social workers and agencies, SS's mother has been unable to maintain steady employment or to provide a stable residence for the child since his birth. She also has a history of mental health issues for which she has failed to seek treatment. SS was removed from her care in January 2008.

CT and his wife AW, our clients, met SS in March 2009 and became his foster parents on June 30, 2009. Through its partnership with the Children's Law Center, the firm became involved in the case after that date. We proceeded to file a petition for adoption on behalf of our clients and represented their interests at several hearings. Most notably, during a two day show cause hearing on December 1 and 2, 2009, we successfully convinced the D.C. Superior Court that SS's birth mother's rights should be waived and that adoption by CT and AW was in SS's best interest. The adoption was finalized on February 16, 2010.