Academy of California Adoption-ART Lawyers

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The Academy of California Adoption-ART Lawyers (ACAL) is an invitational society of family formation law attorneys whose membership is limited to those licensed California attorneys with extensive legal expertise adoption and assisted reproduction, whose practices meet the highest standards of ethics and professional competence. The Academy is a California non-profit mutual benefit corporation whose members are separate and individual law practitioners.  

Effective July 10, 2023, California law was updated to limit the ability to act as an adoption intermediary, or advertise adoption services. Violation of these laws can result in a misdemeanor conviction, fines and jail time. Prospective adoptive parents should contact an ACAL adoption attorney for more information to ensure they don't inadvertently violate current law.  ACAL attorneys are committed to full compliance, and nothing on this website or in any ACAL promotional materials shall be construed otherwise. For further information, see Family Code Sections 8521, 8530, 8533, 8609, 8610, and 8621 through 8625, inclusive; Health & Safety Code Sections 1502, 1503.1, 1503.5, and 1505.

ACAL ATTORNEYS DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

* DEMONSTRATE expertise; each Academy member must have completed a minimum number of successful family formation cases (adoption or ART), or must have other special experience or expertise sufficient to prove the high standard of knowledge and experience required for membership.

* PROVIDE professional, public, and judicial education on adoption, assisted reproduction, guardianship, foster care proceedings, legislation, and related topics.

* ENCOURAGE fair and balanced family formation laws and regulations.

* ADHERE to ethical standards equal to or more stringent than those of the State Bar of California. 

* STRIVE to increase the competence and compliance of family formation lawyers, and thereby reduce exploitation of the vulnerable.

* DEDICATE THEMSELVES to providing knowledgeable and competent legal services to clients in family formation matters, pursuant to California law.