Online adoption service resolves suit by Illinois AG
An online adoption service that matches prospective parents with birth mothers has entered into a consent decree to resolve a suit by the Illinois Attorney General’s office that claimed the agency was not approved to place children in the state.
The Adoption Network Law Center registered with the state after the suit was filed in October 2013 and may provide services that result in the placement of a child from another state into Illinois, according to the consent decree (PDF).
However, the Law Center is not licensed as an adoption agency in the state, and it can’t provide services or financial support to Illinois birth parents, the consent decree says. It must also stop any advertising that is targeted to Illinois.
A press release notes that the suit was settled without any admission of liability or fault, and the Law Center cooperated in the investigation.
The Law Center describes itself online as a California law corporation that provides nationwide adoption services and offers “the protection and peace of mind of reputable legal services.”
The Law Center’s chief legal counsel, Kristin A.F. Yellin, calls the agreement “fair and reasonable” in the press release. “We look forward to continuing our efforts of providing professional and nurturing adoption assistance to Adopting Parents in Illinois,” Yellin said.
Updated on July 25 to refer to the ANLC as an “online adoption service” and to refer to its online description of itself.
