Facing an unplanned pregnancy is never easy.
Here at Adoptions First, it is our priority to give you as much information
as possible for you to make an informed decision.
Our staff of highly trained individuals is available to answer your questions
and walk you through the process.
The best part, we will be with you every step of the way...
For over 20 years, David Ellis has devoted his time to specializing exclusively in both independent and collaborative adoptions. David is thrilled to continue his work with Adoptions First. Many agencies throughout the United States have criteria as to who can adopt. David believes that everyone should share the joy of parenting a child, and does not limit the criteria for adoption based on age, race, religion or sexual orientation. He brings this philosophy to Adoptions First.
Among the thousands of adoptions in his career, David has represented a number of high profile and celebrity clients. He has also been involved in the placement of a number of infants to single parents and committed couples.
David personally experienced the adoption process when he and his wife, Linda, adopted their daughter, Chelsea. David is especially sensitive to the issues and concerns for both the adoptive parents and birth mothers. He believes that adoption is a valuable and successful alternative to infertility.
Aside from authoring and co-authoring numerous articles on adoption, David has been a participant in numerous talk radio programs and has appeared on local television programs related to adoption issues.
Over the years, Linda has shared with friends and clients that her goal was to have the experience of raising a child, of being a Mom. Looking back on the last twenty years, Linda's dreams have been fulfilled.
After experiencing fertility issues, Linda decided adoption would be a viable alternative to creating a family. Within three months of making the decision to adopt, her daughter Chelsea was born in Chadron, Nebraska. Linda experienced the highs and lows of adoption. She knows the process can be daunting. While her fears were real to her, the adoption of Chelsea was essentially flawless. Linda has been in the legal field in excess of 25 years. In 1988, she helped open the Adoption Law Center with her husband, David.
Linda has extensive experience working for the Adoption Law Center with nearly 2,000 completed adoptions. Her focus is behind the scenes: interfacing with the Department of Social Services, Interstate Compact and the termination of birthfather's rights, and processing cases through the finalization process. Linda is committed to building families through adoption. She does not believe adoptive parents should be excluded against based on age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, race or color.
Elisabeth Aczel Wallock has worked with David and Linda Ellis in the field of private domestic adoptions for over the past fifteen years. She has assisted thousands of adopting parents and birth parents through the adoption process.
Elisabeth was adopted herself at birth and gives real depth and insight into the thoughts and emotions involved within the adoption triangle (adopting parents, birth parents, adoptee). She enjoys sharing her experiences growing up as an adoptee and her feelings toward her birth mother (gratitude) and adoptive parents (love).
Elisabeth Aczel Wallock has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and is currently working on her Masters in Applied Psychology. She has a background working in residential treatment of adolescent girls, which led her to a greater understanding of young women facing unplanned pregnancies. Through this understanding, Elisabeth is able to discern whether an adoption plan is the right choice for a potential birth mother. Elisabeth specializes in the screening of potential birth parents and the orchestration of a successful adoption plan.
Elisabeth is committed both personally and professionally to the adoption process. She is thrilled to continue her work helping to build families. She is thrilled to continue helping to build families. She does not consider it a job, but a joy.
Tami Iskyan is an attorney who decided to follow her passion of working with children and families in the field of adoption. One of her many strengths is the representation of birth mothers. A number of states require Independent Legal Counsel. This gives a birth mother the comfort of knowing she has her own attorney.
Tami works with birthmothers to reduce their fears and to help them build a relationship with the adopting parents. She supports and assists the birthmother to prepare to hand over her baby to the adopting family after the birth.
Tami maintains her own practice in Pasadena, California. Tami believes that a successful adoption takes considerable work and care. Adopting is a delicate process. The birth parents require extensive support. Tami's participation and caring increases the odds of a successful placement.
David and Linda Ellis recruited Tami Iskyan to handle complicated adoption cases based upon her talent in dealing with complex legal issues and emotionally charged adoptions. Over the past ten years, Tami has helped many people realize their dreams. She takes great pride in being instrumental that the needs of her clients have been matched.
Tami's expertise extends to terminating the rights of birth fathers, handling step parent adoptions and acting as the liaison between birth parents, adopting parents and the judicial system.
After years of working alongside the lead attorney for the Adoption Law Center, Stella Valdivia knew that she would dedicate her career to the adoption process. She has tremendous compassion for both adopting families and birth mothers. Stella feels great joy as families' lives are changed forever with the birth of a child. Stella has helped hundreds of couples fulfill their dreams.
Stella is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the adoption process. Adoptions First understands the importance of finding right adoptive parents. Stella works closely with birth mothers during the crucial decision-making process. Her ability to guide birth mothers comes from first hand experience. As a teenager, Stella found herself making a decision that has impacted her throughout her life. She has used that experience to educate birth mothers during the difficult times throughout and after the adoption process.
Stella is a devoted mother of three and enjoys the love and support of her husband. While her family comes first, they understand Mom's passion for adoption. Stella will not rest until her adoptions become final. She firmly believes that a successful adoption is a new beginning for both the birth mother and the adopting parents.
A recent addition to our team is Jamie Levitt. She comes to Adoptions First with a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Psychology. She has a personal stake in her work with Adoptions First. Years ago, Jamie experienced five years of unsuccessful infertility treatments and two failed adoptions with a competent attorney in Los Angeles. She never gave up the pursuit of being a mother, and now has four children of her own. Due to these experiences she has a passion for helping those venturing in the adoption process. She chose our firm based upon our reputation in the adoption community and our 95% success rate.
From these experiences, Jamie brings an understanding for both the adoptive parents as well as the birth parents. She makes certain each side has a voice in the adoption process with the goal of a happy and successful adoption.
As a graduate school student, Jamie worked with the drug-addicted population and at-risk youth. Many young birth mothers have had a challenging beginning and need someone who can understand their experiences. With this understanding, Jamie is able to establish a trusting rapport, which is essential in all cases.
Jamie is truly committed to the team at Adoptions First. She turned to this field because of her personal experience in the adoption process. Due to her personal experiences, she knows the common mistakes and pitfalls many people go through and knows why so many adoptions fail. Her association with Adoptions First will benefit families waiting to adopt.