Adoption & Surrogacy

Ms. Danciu graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 1980. She has an undergraduate degree, Cum Laude, in Exceptional Child Education and was trained as an Emergency Medical Technician. She is a highly regarded expert in Reproductive Law including Surrogacy, Egg, Sperm and Embryo Donation Agreements. Ms. Danciu is one of a very limited number of Board-Certified Adoption Attorneys and has been recognized worldwide as an expert in the fields of Adoption and Reproductive Law. She is a caring and compassionate attorney as well as an adoptive and biological mother. Ms. Danciu has received numerous honors and accolades for her work in Surrogacy and Adoption. She received the Congressional Angel in Adoption Star Award in Washington D.C. She received the Adoption Advocate of the Year Award for her challenge to the Scarlet letter Law in Florida. She received the distinguished Alumni Awards from Both Florida State University and Palm Beach State College. She has presented “Florida Surrogacy Laws to the Florida Society for Reproductive Medicine at their Annual conference and she has participated at the International Fertility conference in London England. In addition to appearing on numerous talk shows and in print media including local and National News such as the New York Times and People Magazine and Marie Claire, Ms. Danciu is frequently consulted as an expert in the area of Adoptions and Assisted Reproductive Laws and technology. Ms. Danciu has been very involved in the drafting of Florida’s Adoption and Surrogacy Statutes and bringing forth the cases which have helped shape Florida’s laws over the last 30 years.

Mary was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. Mary spent her early years in Hospitality management, bookkeeping, and accounting. Mary has also developed sharp technical skills and acts as the firm’s IT person in most matters. Mary is very creative and artistically talented. She has been responsible for the firm’s advertising design and marketing and assists with presentations and promotions at various conferences. She has been responsible for the firm’s successful advertising design and marketing. Mary also frequently handles initial applications of new clients, surrogates and birthparents, In her spare time throughout the years, Mary has worked with the equestrian community in promotion of youth activities and therapy. Mary is Ms. Danciu’s sister and the mother of two grown children.

Doreen was born and raised in New York where she lived and worked as an adoption paralegal until 1991. At that time, she moved to the “Sunshine State” and began working with Charlotte. Doreen is also an Adoptive Mother of a beautiful daughter and has been an honorary “aunt” and “foster mom” to many through the years. Doreen has worked in the last several years in the very important role of Office Manager. She is skilled and experienced in so many areas that her “office management” often involves assistance and collaboration in the paralegal department as well as handling escrow and trust account matters and billing. Having been with the firm for so many years, Doreen has also become the primary facilitator of the communications and reunions between birth families and their adopted children. As an adoptive mother herself, she understands how important and often delicate her role is in this area of the practice. She is especially mindful of the importance of respecting all feelings of all parties in the adoption triad as well as Surrogacy arrangements.

Laurie started working with Charlotte in 1997. At that time, she had three children, ages 10, 8, and 5. Her children, now grown, have expanded the family with two beautiful grandchildren! As senior paralegal and Court liaison, Laurie enjoys her rewarding work in Charlotte’s specialized fields of Adoption and Surrogacy. She also appreciates the importance of attention to detail in her cases as well as the need for patience, understanding, and support in every aspect of the firm’s representation.

Maria Teresa (Teresa) has been with the firm since 2014, She was born and raised in Columbia. She is fluent in English and Spanish. She handles all matters relative to our Spanish speaking clients in both the areas of Surrogacy and Adoption. Teresa is a warm, compassionate, and skilled paralegal. She takes great pride and joy in her work and often forms lasting relationships with our clients that extend long past the conclusion of our representation. She also helps our International clients who travel from all parts of the world to become comfortable with housing and shopping needs in the area as they await the birth of their child.