About Us
When it comes to surrogacy and adoption, there are many sensitive and impactful issues that must be considered. Addressing these with the insight and guidance of a skilled professional can make all the difference as you navigate the surrogacy process or the adoption of a child. Virginia Frank, International Surrogacy Attorney and Domestic Adoption Attorney, can help you make informed choices and can protect your interests every step of the way. Over the last 30 years, Virginia has limited her practice to the sole focus of Surrogacy and Adoption Law. Here, you can learn more about Attorney, Virginia Frank and Paralegal, Nicole Ferlito, their qualifications, and how they can help in your journey.
- Virginia Frank, Esq.
- Nicole Ferlito, Paralegal
Meet Virginia Frank, Esq.
Virginia L. Frank is an international surrogacy attorney who helps international couples complete their family through surrogacy. She has finalized over 600+ surrogacies since she began working with Intended Parents in 2001. She works closely with attorneys in foreign countries to help intended parents obtain parentage orders and register the child in the parents home country. She has experience with the following different types of surrogacy: Gestational Surrogacy, Traditional Surrogacy, obtains Parentage Orders, LBGTQ re-affirmation of parentage through Adoption (Family Affirmation Act), Carrier representation, Egg Donation Agreements, Sperm Donation Agreements, Embryo Donation Agreements, and more.
Virginia L. Frank is an AV Preeminent® Rated Family Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell® and was awarded the Top 10 Family Law Attorney in Oklahoma by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in 2016 and 2018. Not only is Virginia ranked as a
Platinum Client Champion on Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest peer review rating available, but she is also a Fellow of the Academy of Assisted Reproductive Attorneys (AAAA). AAAA is a world-wide organization with approximately 500 fellows. Fellowship in AAAA is by invitation only and based on criteria for excellence in the practices of adoption and assisted reproduction law. Virginia is also a member of the American Bar Association Section on Assisted Reproductive Technology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Legal Professional Group, and of Helpusadopt.org.
Receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1991, Virginia knew her calling in life was to help others. She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, Nevada Bar Association (In-House Agency Counsel for Adoption Choices, Inc.), New York Bar Association, and Cherokee Tribal Court Bar as well as The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.. Virginia’s collaborative reproduction practice extends across multiple jurisdictions, both nationally and internationally.
Virginia’s hard work has been acknowledged and appreciated as she has been awarded the 2017 Distinguished Lawyer from Expert Network. She is also an active member in the Gift of Adoption Colorado Chapter Board, the Oklahoma Native American Bar Association, Cherokee Bar Association, American Adoption Congress, NICWA (National Indian Child Welfare Association), NACAC (North American Council on Adoptable Children), and GLBT Colorado. She is licensed to practice before the Cherokee Nation Courts.
Virginia’s surrogacy practice includes:
- Intended Parent Representation
- Surrogate Representation
- Egg Donor Representation
- Embryo Donor Representation
- Sperm Donor Representation
- Gestational Carrier Agreement Drafting
- Pre and Post Birth Order
- Interfacing with International Immigration and Parentage Attorney
- Guiding Families through Insurance Requirements
Virginia’s adoption practice includes:
- Interstate Adoptions (ICPC)
- Infant and Toddler Adoptions
- Interstate Adoptions
- Same Sex Adoptions
- Confirmatory Adoptions for Same Sex Couples
- Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
- Designated Adoptions
- Stepparent Adoptions
- Second Parent Adoptions
- Relative Adoptions
Virginia has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her life and is involved annually in approximately 200 adoptions and 75 Reproductive Technology cases.
Virginia’s accomplishments continue with a list of the presentations she has given to adoption agencies, attorneys, and various other professionals regarding adoption and surrogacy law:
- Continuing Legal Education in Oklahoma, “Termination of Birth Father’s Rights in Oklahoma”, Oklahoma Bar Association, 1996
- Planner, Speaker, and Moderator of “Adoption Law Update”, 1999
- Planner, Speaker, and Moderator of “Adoptions – The Changing Twists and Turns”, 2001
- Speaker and Co-Chair, American Academy Mid-Year Meeting for Agencies, October 2006
- Speaker, Oklahoma Bar Association, May 2007
- Colorado Bar Association on Adoption Issues, February and October 2007
- National Business Institute, “Adoption Laws in Colorado”, December 2007
- “Child Placement Organizations, Colorado”, October 2008
- Visiting Speaker at Denver University School of Law, April 2009
- Oklahoma Bar Association, “Updates and Changes”, October 1, 2009
- Resolve Conference, October 2009
- National Business Institute, “Overcoming Interstate Adoption Issues”, December 2009
- National Business Institute, “ICPC and ICWA”, Denver, Colorado, 2010
- “Surrogacy”, William Holloway Inn of Court in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 2011
- Guest Speaker, University of Denver, “Adoption Law and Surrogacy” in Denver, Colorado, 2011
- Webinar, “Adoption Agency Liability”, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, October 14, 2015
- Guest Speaker, “Second Parent Adoptions,” Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2016
- Guest Speaker, “Tips for Minimizing Adoption Agency Liability”, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, April 2017
- Member of Helpusadopt.org, November 2018.
Virginia’s philosophy of practicing law is empathetic, passionate, and most of all effective.
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
~ John Wesley
Meet Nicole Ferlito, Paralegal
Nicole is happy to join the Law office of Virginia Frank as her Paralegal to help prospective Intended Parents, Gestational Carriers, and those looking into the adoption process. Nicole prides herself in her effective communication, organization, and multitasking. She enjoys being that first point of contact for potential clients to help aide them through the process.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys exploring her new home in Colorado, cheering on her favorite sports team and spending as much time with friends and family.