Quotes & Interviews
January 21, 2007
Erik Smith was interviewed for The Adoption Show (podcast available)
June 17, 2006
Erik Smith was interviewed by the PBS program To the Contrary on the topic of father registries
June 4, 2006
Unwed dads get state's help in finding kids, The Columbus Dispatch
March 27, 2006
Erik Smith was interviewed on NPR (podcast available)
March 20, 2006
Erik Smith appeared on CNN Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees with Adam Pertman and Mary Beck (transcript available)
March 19, 2006
Unwed Fathers Fight for Babies Placed for Adoption by Mothers, New York Times
Dads: How to protect your rights, Cleveland Plain Dealer (article no longer available)
 |
Erik L. Smith Attorney at Law in the State of Ohio
2562 Glen Echo Dr.
Columbus, Ohio, 43202
(614) 330-2739
edenstore@msn.com
Please note: This informational website contains articles, memorandums, etc none of which should be considered advertising. This website was created and these articles were written before I obtained my law degree. Please see the additional disclaimer in the footer.
Featured articles
Arkansas v. Cole: If it’s a fundamental desire, it must be a fundamental right
The state of Arkansas has taken the confusion between desires and rights to a new level of absurdity in its decision granting the right to adopt to cohabitating couples.
ICWA and the Fundamental Right to Parent
This article summarizes and comments on the Iowa Supreme Court's decision in In re N.N.E. (June 2008), in which the court held that a portion of the Iowa Indian Child Welfare Act was unconstitutional. I describe why I agree with the case's ultimate result, but disagree with the constitutional ruling.
Boumediene v. Bush: The Suspension Clause and Guantanamo Bay
This articles summarizes the United States Supreme Court opinion in Boumediene v. Bush rendered in June 2008 about the right of Gauntanamo Bay detainees to test the legality of their detention through habeas corpus. I describe why I agree with the decision, addressing the dissenting justices and distinguishing the case from In re Quirin, a prisoner of war case from World War II.
UNWED FATHERS: Preventing Your Newborn from Being Adopted in Utah.
Contested Adoption in Florida
This article summarizes a contested adoption case in Florida's Second District Court of Appeals, decided in July 2008. The unwed parents had met at a religious school they were attending in 2004, conceived a child, and became informally engaged. The mother's parents then removed the mother from the school and concealed her location from the father. The father did not know about the pregnancy until shortly before the birth. In July 2008, the Appeals Court held that the father's consent to the adoption was unnecessary on the ground of abandonment after learning of the pregnancy and during the litigation. I state my disagreement with that decision, describing procedures and precedents the court neglected to relate.
Premium Article
Changing Minors' Names in Ohio
The article describes in depth the law in Ohio, as of July 1, 2008, about changing minors' surnames. The article discusses when a court other than the probate court may entertain a name change, and the factors courts consider when determining a name change, and giving notice of the application to change name to the other parent.
Premium Article
When is a Registered Putative Father's Consent to Adoption Unnecessary in Ohio?
The article describes in depth the law in Ohio, as of July 1, 2008, about when probate courts find a registered putative (non-legally established) father's consent unnecessary under R.C. 3107.07 for abandonment or failure to support the mother or child adequately. The article concerns only fathers of the child who have registered timely with the Ohio Putative Father Registry.
Premium Article
Special Appearance in Ohio
The article briefly describes the law in Ohio, as of July 1, 2008, about making a special appearance in Ohio (appearing in an Ohio court in a civil case without submitting to the court's jurisdiction). Ohio has abolished the special appearance procedure. Now, litigants wanting to appear specially must plead the jurisdictional or other problem under the civil rules. The article discusses the rules about doing that.
See also Erik L. Smith's article, "Putative Father Registry Deadlines and the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act" in Air Force Law Review volume 60, September 2007, pp 175-197.
Premium Articles
Premium articles feature in depth coverage of legal issues related to adoption and family law. You can help support Erik Smith's writing by purchasing these articles through PayPal.
General Articles
Memoranda
Additional writing
Documents which have not yet been converted to the new website format are collected below.
Smith v. Hayes (PDF)
Midwifery (PDF)
Midwifery and the Law: Waiver of Appellate Review
Midwives Trial Book - Section III: Understanding the Legal System
Midwifery and State Law Reference
Putative Father Registry Cases in Ohio
(As of January 1, 2006)
- In re Adoption of Law, 2006-Ohio-600 (3rd Dist.) (establishing paternity through guardian in administrative proceeding before petition is filed)
- In re K.M.S., 2005-Ohio-4739 (2nd Dist.)
- In re Adoption of A.N.L., 2005-Ohio-4239 (12th Dist.)
- In re Adoption of Baby F, 2004-Ohio-1871 (10th Dist.)
- In re Adoption of Suvak, 2004-Ohio-536
- In re J. H.03-LW-4293 (9th)
- In re Vest 01-LW-0846 (10th)
- In re Adoption of Cameron 03-LW-3158 (1st)
- In re Adoption of Lichtenberg 03-LW-0864 (12th)
- In re Adoption of Baby Boy Brooks (2000), 136 Ohio App.3d 824 (10th Dist.)
- In re Adoption of Coppersmith (2001), 145 Ohio App.3d 141 (2nd Dist.)
- In re Adoption of Snavely 00-LW-4739 (2nd)
- In re Adoption of Williams 98-LW-2763 (5th) (just cause for not paying child support)
About this website
Eriksmith.org deals mainly with adoption and family law in Ohio. However, some articles and information apply generally. I can also help you find lawyers anywhere. The content is meant for both lawyers and non-lawyers.
Topics: fathers rights • putative father registry • attorney referral • natural parents rights • birth parents rights • midwifery • adoption law • juvenile law • termination of parental rights • paternity registry • biological father • Ohio family law
About Erik Smith
Erik L. Smith is a certified paralegal in Columbus, Ohio and an independent legal researcher for family law and personal injury attorneys. (more)
_________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: The information on the website is not intended to be a source of solicitation or legal advice, the results obtained in any legal matter discussed in any articles or examples are not typical. The information discussed on this website should not be construed as a certain result will occur in a similar situation, the reader should not rely on the information on this site as the sole source of information to make a legal-hiring decision. The reader should not consider the information on this website to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act or decline to act based on the content from this site, and should instead contact an attorney or other appropriate professional. Articles and information on this website may discuss law in multiple jurisdictions, as laws and regulations differ from one jurisdiction to another, it is important to discuss your particular situation with an attorney in the jurisdiction where your legal matter exist. Erik Smith does not represent that he has any particular expertise in any area of law. You may email Erik Smith, but to the extent allowed by law those communications shall not be treated as privileged unless Erik Smith represents you, as such do not send confidential information until you have established a formal attorney-client relationship with him. Where applicable on this website, you are informed that we are an interactive computer service that enables access by multiple users and should not be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. Where applicable Copyright ©2013 Erik L Smith