Adopting a Child in Your Home?

Each adoption is unique. Whether you're a foster parent, stepparent or relative of the child, adoption attorney Dawn Coppock helps all types of families looking to expand.
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Adoptive Parents

You want a child in your home and you are looking at options

Court Placement

You want to adopt a child placed with you by a court

Foster Parents

A child is in your home placed by DCS or another state agency

Private Agency

You have a child in your home placed by a private agency

Stepparent

You want to adopt your spouse’s child

Informal Adoption

You want to adopt a child in your home without a placement

Relative Adoption

You want to adopt the child of a relative

Adult Adoption

You want to adopt an adult

Adoptive Parents

You want a child in your home and you are looking at options

Foster Parents

A child is in your home placed by DCS or another state agency

Stepparent

You want to adopt your spouse’s child

Relative Adoption

You want to adopt the child of a relative

Court Placement

You want to adopt a child placed with you by a court

Private Agency

You have a child in your home placed by a private agency

Informal Adoption

You want to adopt a child in your home without a placement

Adult Adoption

You want to adopt an adult

About Dawn Coppock

Tennessee Adoption Attorney, Author, and Teacher

Nothing is closer to the bone than family. You must feel comfortable with the competence, values and ethics of your lawyer before you place the creation of your family in their hands.  You may want to get to know Dawn a little. That’s fair. 

In 1997, Dawn wrote the book on Tennessee Adoption law. She’s kept it up-to-date ever since. Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law is now in its 7th edition and is the go-to adoption law resource for judges and lawyers in Tennessee.

For years, Dawn has been training lawyers, judges, prospective adoptive parents, students, community groups, public and private adoption agencies and has been a media resource regarding adoption law and child welfare.

Dawn Coppock, Adoption Attorney

Testimonials From Dawn’s Clients

“There is not a more professional person that could have ever helped to make our family complete. Dawn and her staff are without a doubt the best and we are blessed to know them. We have two beautiful children that have our last name all because Dawn and her staff desire to help guide families. We highly recommend Dawn and her staff to anyone seeking adoption.”

Former Client

“Ours was an extremely challenging adoption case. We are so grateful Dawn was our adoption attorney. The depth and breadth of her experience, strategic skill and moxie lead us to victory at the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court. We know that no other attorney could have accomplished what she did for our adoption case.”

Patrick and Kris Tobin

“Tony and I would not consider using anyone but the Dawn Coppock team. Adoption is a scary and stressful process, and to know that you have an experienced, and caring team that is watching out for every aspect with your family’s interests at heart, is a Godsend. They Are Amazing!!!”

The Amos Family

Dawn is Ready to Help with Your Unique Adoption Case

For over 30 years, Dawn has been an adoption and child-welfare advocate nationally and in Tennessee. She knows where the system is working and the places that it is not. She offers her frank assessment to policymakers (Public Outcry article), and sometimes they listen. She has drafted and passed many child-welfare bills in the Tennessee Legislature, founded, encouraged and supported advocacy organizations, educated lawyers and judges on good practice, and pointed out places that we can do better for our children, openly and behind the scenes at every opportunity. To see what Dawn has been up to recently visit her Legislative Blog.

Dawn represents families in most types of adoption and termination of parental rights cases. She also frequently consults with foster parents. Her time is increasingly dominated by writing, training, consulting, and meditating, so she can’t take every case with merit. She continues to take almost all uncontested adoptions, like agency and DCS cases and relative adoptions with consent or where the other party is unlikely to contest.  Even when she can’t take a case, a consultation permits Dawn to share her experience about whether it is the right time to file a case, and if so, exactly what and where to file, and to create a litigation plan. She even suggests possible lawyers to complete the case.

If a termination of parental rights case is already underway, Dawn can also consult with one party or mediate for all parties but of course, not both.

If you want to talk with Dawn about your case: please contact Angela Cameron, paralegal, for information on Dawn’s availability and to schedule an appointment.