Ms. Tate is currently the managing partner of the Law Office of Jeanne T. Tate, PA and a board certified adoption attorney. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida College of Law where she teaches Adoption Law and Procedure. Ms. Tate’s has an extensive and exclusive practice in the area of adoptions, and has participated in the placement of over 2,000 children in loving homes. As a member of the prestigious American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and The Florida Adoption Council, Jeanne has been active in interstate compact adoptions and has a comprehensive knowledge of adoption law. She works closely with adoption agencies to provide a full range of services to birth parents and adoptive families, and owns her own agency, Heart of Adoptions, Inc. Ms. Tate graduated with high honors in 1978 from the University of Florida with a B.S. degree in Journalism and, in 1981, she graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law. For the past several years in a row, Ms. Tate has been named as one of The Best Lawyers in America, Florida’s Legal Elite and Florida Super Lawyers. Over the years, Ms. Tate and her firm have been the recipient of several prestigious honors and awards including US News and World Report Top Tier Lawyer, Best Law Firms (2010-12); 2012 Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Service Award, 2010 ABA Small and Solo Firm Lifetime Achievment Award; 2010 Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Extraordinary Woman; Guardian Angel, Voices for Children (2009), Tampa Bay Business Journal Woman of the year finalist (2009); HAWL Achievement Award (2009), a Congressional Award as an Angel in Adoption (2006), Small Business Leader of the Year by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough County’s Pro Bono Firm Award (2006) and the Florida Adoption Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2004). Ms. Tate’s professional affiliations include the following: Florida Bar; Hillsborough County Bar Association; Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program; Athena Society, and the Hillsborough County Association for Women Lawyers. She has appeared on national and local television on the subject of adoption and lobbies extensively in this area.
Lawyer Profile
Jeanne T. Tate
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Recognized Since:2007
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Recognized in:Family Law
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Law School:University of Florida
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Website:
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Phone:
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Languages:English, Spanish
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Location:418 West Platt StreetTampa, FL 33606
Ms. Tate is currently the managing partner of the Law Office of Jeanne T. Tate, PA and a board certified adoption attorney. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida College of Law where she teaches Adoption Law and Procedure. Ms. Tate’s has an extensive and exclusive practice in the area of adoptions, and has participated in the placement of over 2,000 children in loving homes. As a member of the prestigious American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and The Florida Adoption Council, Jeanne has been active in interstate compact adoptions and has a comprehensive knowledge of adoption law. She works closely with adoption agencies to provide a full range of services to birth parents and adoptive families, and owns her own agency, Heart of Adoptions, Inc. Ms. Tate graduated with high honors in 1978 from the University of Florida with a B.S. degree in Journalism and, in 1981, she graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law. For the past several years in a row, Ms. Tate has been named as one of The Best Lawyers in America, Florida’s Legal Elite and Florida Super Lawyers. Over the years, Ms. Tate and her firm have been the recipient of several prestigious honors and awards including US News and World Report Top Tier Lawyer, Best Law Firms (2010-12); 2012 Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Service Award, 2010 ABA Small and Solo Firm Lifetime Achievment Award; 2010 Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Extraordinary Woman; Guardian Angel, Voices for Children (2009), Tampa Bay Business Journal Woman of the year finalist (2009); HAWL Achievement Award (2009), a Congressional Award as an Angel in Adoption (2006), Small Business Leader of the Year by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough County’s Pro Bono Firm Award (2006) and the Florida Adoption Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2004). Ms. Tate’s professional affiliations include the following: Florida Bar; Hillsborough County Bar Association; Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program; Athena Society, and the Hillsborough County Association for Women Lawyers. She has appeared on national and local television on the subject of adoption and lobbies extensively in this area.
Lawyer Bio
Education:
- University of Florida, J.D., graduated 1981
- University of Florida, B.A., Journalism with High Honors, graduated 1978
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, The Florida Bar
Affiliations:
- Hillsborough County Local Planning Committee - Florida''s Five Year Plan for the Promotion of Adoption and Support of Adoptive Families
- Gift of Adoption - Board of Directors
- University of Florida College of law - Board of Trustees
- The Florida Bar - Adoption Certification Committee
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys - Fellow
- Florida Adoption Council - Executive Vice President
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:
- Family Law, Tampa (2019)
- Family Law, Tampa (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:
- Family Law
Awards:
- The Best Lawyers in America 2007-2010
- Small Business of the Year Award-Tampa Chamber of Commerce 2005
- Small Business Leader of the Year Award- Tampa Chamber of Commerce 2006
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Florida Adoption Council 2004
- Hillsborough County Pro Bono Firm Award 2006
- Florida Super Lawyers (top 5% statewide) 2008, 2009
- Congressional Award - Angel in Adoption 2006 (Nominated by Representative Jim Davis)
- 2009 Voices for Children Guardian Angel Award
- 2009 Tampa Bay Business Journal Woman of the Year
- 2009 HAWL Achievement Award
Areas of Expertise:
- Adoption
- Surrogacy
Firm Details
Jeanne T. Tate, P.A.
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Attorney Case History
J.A. v. Heart of Adoptions
After a successful trial that was reversed by an intermediate appellate court, Jeanne Tate was successful in overturning the district court of appeal decision in a landmark case rendered by the Florida Supreme Court on July 12, 2007. The Supreme Court held that the rights of an unmarried biological father who is known or identified by the mother and who is locatable by diligent search may be terminated based on his failure to file with the Putative Father Registry, but only if he is served with a Notice of Intended Adoption Plan under §63.062(3)(a) and he fails to comply with the requirements of that subsection within thirty-days. According to the Court, this required the birth father to timely file a claim of paternity with the registry, execute and file an affidavit in the proceeding that he is personally fully able and willing to take responsibility for the child, set forth his plans for care of the child, and agree to a court order of child support and a contribution to the payment of living and medical expenses incurred for the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s birth in accordance with his ability to pay. Further, if the birth father knew about the pregnancy, he must have paid a fair and reasonable amount of expenses incurred in connection with the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s birth, in accordance with his financial ability and when not prevented from doing so by the birth mother or authorized agent having lawful custody of the child. If the birth father demonstrates compliance with all applicable subsections, the adoption entity is still entitled to pursue a claim of abandonment as a basis to terminate his parental rights.
J.C.J. v. HEART OF ADOPTIONS, INC
This case is reported at No. 2D07-2679. J.C.J. v. HEART OF ADOPTIONS, INC is a landmark decison defining the concept of abandonment in a fact specific, but common situation. This decision followed a major rewrite of Florida''s adoption laws. Jeanne T. Tate tried the case below and was involved in the appeal to the Second District.
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