AboutCarolin Schulz-Burgess Expertise German legal issues on inheritance, divorce, alimony, child custody, last wills and testaments, and other problems involving international family and civil law.
Experience I am a certified German laywer with professional experience in both German and American law firms. Since 2001 I have been working independently at my firm, German Legal Services.
Organizations World Affairs Council, German Bar Association
Publications North Carolina Bar Association Newsletter
Question QUESTION: I met Jutta in America and we married early in 2008 and moved back to Germany. May 18th Keenan was born. Jutta did not want to keep Keenan. she is a student and did not want to do anything that would interfer with her education. We put the baby up for adoption and the two month waiting period is up soon. Jutta has refused to support any decisions that would let Keenan be adopted in America. Now that it is time to sign the papers she doesn't know if she has time to go sign them, sighting that she has classes. When we went to the adoption angency no one spoke English. The adoptive parents spoke English, but no one has explained my rights to me so I feel I have no option but to sign the papers. At no time has therre been anyone who explained what I need to do to make surte Keenan will be ok and that I will be able to sent him things or see him after I sign the papers. The adoptive parents say they want me to stay in contact, but I can't read the papers I will sign so I don't know if that will happen. I have been told by the adoption angency here in America to hire a lawyer, but I can't afford to do that. Please help me. I don't know what to do. theBerlin agency is Gemeinsamer Adoptions-und Pflegekinderdienst-Pfalzburger StraBe 18-10719 Berlin. Thank you for you help. Scott Johnston
ANSWER: Dear Scott,
You will sign of your parental right if you give up the child for adoption. It will depend on the family that will adopt him if you can stay in contact with Keenan. But you have to decide what will be the best for the Keenan. He needs a family that takes good care of him as soon as possible. I am sorry but I can't contact the agency in Berlin if you are not able to send me a $130.00 prepayment (csb@germanlegalservices.com).
Sincerely,
C. Burgess
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QUESTION: I just wanted you to know that your response didn't help at all. I wanted to know how to get the agency to respond to me in English. If they are required to give me papers in English. If I had the money to hire a lawyer I would not have had to use All Experts for help. You gave me false hope. I feel as if All Experts is just is a filter for lawyers to get business. I did not ask for you to contact agency. I gave you their info feeling you might know what the policy of the agency was.
Scott Johnston
Answer Dear Scott,
I am sorry that you are disappointed with my answer. But German authorities often don't provide translations for my American clients. I only had one international adoption case so far and in that case I helped my American client to adopt the brother of his daughter. You can contact the international social service in the US for example the Catholic Family Services in your home state. They might have more experience in this matter.
