GW or Washington Hospital Center for lesbian parents?

[Anonymous]

OP, do you live in VA? If you are in DC or MD it is suggested that you do a second parent adoption regardless of the birth certificate. Another state may not give "full faith and credit" to the b.c. but must honor a court order.

[Anonymous]

If it helps clarify OP, the following language was given to us in NJ which also had a similar DP law. I know that DC and MD both allow second parent adoption, in MD it must be done through a friendly judge in Baltimore. Friends have used Michelle Zavos as their attorney, I think Micah Salb who posts on DCUM might also do second parent adoptions. Anyway, I'd only assume the b.c. will be legally recognized in DC. I think that there has been litigation on this issue in VA, some families do move out of state temporarily to pursue second parent adoption. If you do live in VA, I'd also have wills, guardianships, etc. drawn up, but as I understand it the Sharon Bottoms case is still controlling law. I have personally met gay bio parents who lost custody to relatives who because of that case, and non-bio parents should be aware of the rulings in the Jenkins case.

"REMEMBER: the issuance of a birth certificate to two moms DOES NOT take the place of a Judgment for Adoption. You must proceed to an adoption if you want the legal rights of the non-biological mom to be safe outside the State of New Jersey. Even within New Jersey, should the Civil Union laws ever be repealed by the Legislature or invalidated by Constitutional Amendment, then the birth record alone may not serve to solidify the non-biological parent’s rights to parent the child."

Anyway, good luck and early congrats on your new baby to be.