Uncontested adoptions at CVLS bring joy both to clients and to the pro bono attorneys working on them. CVLS client, Emmanuel, has been helping raise his stepson since 2018. The child, now 10 years old, has essentially known no father but Emmanuel and wanted for the rest of the world to see Emmanuel for the great dad he is.
Kacie Brinkman and Nichole Lopez-Tackett, with assistance from Kris Kenn, all of Ropes & Gray LLP, represented Emmanuel and his wife in their adoption case. Kacie filed all the appropriate paperwork, and the team set about the important steps of terminating the absent legal father’s rights and proving to the court that Emmanuel was fit to adopt.
In May 2025, the Cook County Adoption Court finalized Emmanuel’s adoption of his stepson. This legal proceeding commemorates Emmanuel’s devotion to helping raise his adoptive son. The adoption was extra special to Emmanuel as his son elected in the end to take Emmanuel’s last name. The pair are now decisively father and son.