Randy's Qualifications
You should know all about the attorney you might select to work with you, so here is some information about Randy:
Education
Randy received his Bachelor's Degree at the age of 19. Considering himself too young to begin a career, he spend several years as a "bit-part" television and film actor, then a year teaching English as a second language in Nice, France. After these few years of "fun time", he decided to go to law school, and in 1986 graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate. He is a member of the California State Bar. He is also licensed to appear before the United States Supreme Court and prevailed in litigating an important adoption case there, expanding adoption rights.
Literary
Randy is the author of many adoption books and is one of the biggest-selling adoption authors in the nation. ADOPTING IN AMERICA: How To Adopt Within One Year has been published in five revised editions over the last twelve years, with the most recently released edition in December, 2011. It is avaliable as both a traditional book and ebook in many venues, including Amazon. (Click here to visit Adoption101.com's Amazon-affiliate online bookstore, to learn more about, or purchase, this or other adoption books. Amazon heavily discounts most books. For example, ADOPTING IN AMERICA is only $11.53, rather than the list price / bookstore price of $16.95.)
Randy also authored several books which have sold out their print runs are now only available as used books: ADOPTION: The Essential Guide to Adopting Quickly and Safely (2007); ADOPTING IN CALIFORNIA (printed in three editions, the last in 1999, thus is so outdated that Randy does not recommend it); and ADOPTION STORIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (1995). His books have been featured on The Today Show, CBS This Morning, The Leeza Gibbons Show, Sally Jessy Raphael, Mike & Maty and The Home Show, and received high praise from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist and the Adoptive Families of America. He has also authored articles for countless magazines and journals (including the Resolve National Newsletter, and both national and local medical and legal journals).
Professional
Randy limits his law practice to adoption and has done so for his entire career of 26 years. In that time he has completed up to about 60 adoptions annually, and has completed over 1,000 in his career, but has cut back his practice over the years and now completes about 30 annually in a desire to have a smaller, more intimate law practice. Despite his nationally recognized books, he prefers a small, locally-oriented law practice, allowing him to both serve his clients well and still spend time with his family. His primary function is to assist adoptive parents and birth mothers in planning safe, ethical and loving adoptions. He served as an advisor to the legislative panel which has created new adoption laws in California, and has taken on some appellate cases which resulted in expanded adoption rights. He is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. (He was also a member of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers for many years - a state version of the national American Academy of Adoption Attorneys - but withdrew from it in good standing due to a lack of time to devote to both adoption attorney organizations. He continues to hold ACAL in high regard, however.)
Public Appearances
Randy has been a speaker for many organizations, including Resolve, the North American Council for Adoption of Children and the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, as well as some of the TV shows mentioned above.
Legal fees
Some people may mistakenly assume that Randy's legal fees are higher than other adoption attorneys, or adoption agencies or facilitators, due to his long career in adoption and acclaimed books on the subject. To the contrary, his fees are equal to, or often even lower than, many other adoption professionals. This is because - as you will know if you read his books and their emphasis on high ethics in adoption for all concerned - that adoption fees be reasonable for everyone. Oddly it seems that the least qualified, and least ethical, actually have the highest fees. His fees vary based upon the dynamics and needs of each case, but he will be happy to discuss expected costs with you. Most of his clients retain him on a flat fee, so there is one set price, rather than the uncertainty of an hourly fee. Naturally, there are no legal fees for birth parents in placing a child for adoption, as the adoptive parents pay the legal costs.
Personal
Randy is married with two children. In his spare time he has been a kids' soccer and tennis coach, 4-H leader, Sunday School teacher and school site council member. His hobbies are tennis, carpentry and reading mysteries.
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For adoptive parents wishing to receive more information about Randy and his practice, including a detailed Common Questions About Adoption guide, and a Questionnaire to complete if you wish to become a client, both can be either mailed or emailed to you. Please contact Randy's office: 951-787-8300. If you are pregnant and want to learn about adoption options, and you hear our voice mail when you call, please press "1" to connect to Randy's cell phone, and he will be happy to speak to you immediately, night or day. There are no legal fees to birth mothers in completing an adoption. Randy can also be reached by email by clicking here. The Common Questions About Adoption details adoption law and procedures as well as Randy's fees and services. If convenient for you, we recommend you request them by email, as it is faster for you, and is also beneficial for the environment (no wasted paper, no required postal delivery). The easiest way to do this is make your request by email, and we can just attach it and "reply" to the same address. If you prefer it the old-fashioned way by mail, we are happy to do that as well.
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