James Outman

Contact Information

P.O. Box 942075
Atlanta, GA 31141-2075

P: 404-317-3044
F: 404-585-3094
Jim@hesteroutman.com

Practice Areas:
Adoption
Estate Planning
Probate
Guardianships

Admitted:
1971

Law School:
The Georgetown University Law Center

College:
Georgia Tech

Member:
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA)
Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers (GCAL)
Associate Member of the Georgia Association of Licensed Adoption Agencies (GALAA)

Biography:
James B. Outman received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech in 1967 and his Juris Doctor from The Georgetown University Law Center in Washington DC in 1971. He has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since November 1971 and is admitted to practice in all Georgia courts, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Jim and his wife, Mary Jane, adopted their son in 1973 and because of his personal experience adoption has been a focus of Jim’s professional career.

In 2002 Jim was invited to join the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, which is an international group of attorneys, judges, and law professors dedicated to the highest standards of practice in the field of adoption law. In 2009 Jim was invited to become a charter Fellow in the Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers, Inc. which is an invitation only group of Georgia attorneys who have demonstrated through practice their expertise and experience in the area of adoption law.

Jim has been the principal author of every piece of adoption legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly since 1975. Jim has authored several articles on adoption related matters and he has presented at every Adoption Law & Practice seminar sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia since 1993 and has been the Chair of the seminars since 1995. In addition Jim has addressed the Superior Court Judges of Georgia at ten of their semi-annual continuing judicial education seminars since 1990 on issues involving adoption law and practice. In 2002 Jim was invited to join the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, which is an international group of attorneys, judges, and law professors dedicated to the highest standards of practice in the field of adoption law.

Jim participated in the drafting of the Rules and Regulations for Child-Placing Agencies promulgated in 1984 and in 2000 by the Georgia Department of Human Services. He is an Associate Member of the Georgia Association of Licensed Adoption Agencies (GALAA) and has made several presentations to GALAA meetings and conferences.

In 2003 Jim was one of 165 honored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) as an Angel in Adoption™ for his many hours of work in the area of adoption in Georgia. The Angels in Adoption™ program was created in 1999 to raise public awareness of the many different ways that committed individuals can help children and families through adoption.

In 2016 Jim received the Outstanding Service to the Stonewall Community Award for his pro bono work on behalf of E.L. in filing amicus briefs on behalf of both the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Inc. and the Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers, Inc. in both the Court of Civil Appeals and the Supreme Court of Alabama and in the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of E.L. v. V.L.

Jim has:

• Been a guest lecturer at Georgia State University College of Law on Adoption Law and Practice in Georgia on three occasions.
• Appeared on the PBS program “The Layman’s Lawyer” to discuss adoption law and foster care issues.
• Appeared on CNN several times to provide comments and answer questions on adoption related news stories.
• Presented on an ALI-ABA web cast tilted “Adoption Practice Today: International and Federal Adoption Issues” in October 2008.
• Presented on the Adoption Tax Credit at the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys 20th annual conference in Portland, Oregon, in May 2009, and 25th annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in April 2014.
• Presented on the Social Security Benefits and the Adopted Child at the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys 24th annual conference in San Diego, California, in April 2013.
• Presented as a Visiting Scholar in Practice at the Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy sponsored by the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University School of Law in October 2012 on adoption records and post-adoption contact agreements.

Reported Cases:

Anderson v. Farrington, 3___ Ga.App. ___, 7__ S.E.2d ____ (Ga. App. 2017) A16A1730 (oral argument September 7, 2016, decision pending)

V.L v. E.L., et al, 577 U.S. _____, 136 S.Ct. 1017 (No. 15-648) decided March 7, 2016 (Amicus)

V.L v. E.L., et al, ____ So.3d _____ (Alabama Docket No. 1140595)2015 (Amicus)

V.L v. E.L., et al, ____ So.3d _____ (Alabama Civil App Docket No. 2130683) 2015 (Amicus)

In the Interest of J.M.L, a child, 336 Ga.App. 518, 784 S.E.2d 869 (Ga. App. 2016)

In re Petition of D.B., 133 A. 3d 561 (D.C. Court of Appeals), March 10, 2016

Parker v. Stone, 333 Ga.App. 638, 773 S.E.2d 793 (Ga. App. 2015) July 8, 2015 rehearing denied; cert. denied,

In the Interest of J.M.L, a child, A15A0315, January 28, 2015 affirmance without opinion Rule 36, not officially reported

Park v. Bailey, 329 Ga.App. 569, 765 S.E.2d 721 (Ga. App. 2014)

Stanfield v. Alizota, 294 Ga. 813, 756 S.E.2d 526 (2014)

Richardt v. Giddens, Court of Appeals, A13A0532 June 28, 2013, Motion for Reconsideration Denied July 18, 2013 – not officially reported

Shaw v. Jeffries, Court of Appeals, A12A1723 and A12A1727, March 7, 2013 – not officially reported

In the Interests of J.C.W. and J.C.W., children et al, 315 Ga.App. 566, 727 S.E.2d 127 (Ga. App. 2012)

Brewton v. Poss, 316 Ga.App. 704, 728 S.E.2d 837 (Ga. App. 2012)

Parker v. Stone, 306 Ga.App. 636, 702 S.E.2d 636 (Ga. App. 2010)

Owen v. Watts, 303 Ga.App. 867, 695 S.E.2d 62 (Ga.App. 2010)

In re: Adoption of D.J.F.M., 284 Ga.App. 420, 683 S.E.2d 879, (2007). (Amicus)

Smith v. Soligon, 254 Ga.App. 172, 561 S.E.2d 850 (2002)

In. Re.: C.N.W., a child, 274 Ga. 765, 560 S.E.2d 1 (2002)

In re D.H., 243 Ga.App. 778, 534 S.E.2d 466, (2000) (Amicus)

In the Interests of B.G.D., a Child, 224 Ga. App. 124, 479 S.E.2d 439 (1996) (Amicus)

Echols v. Cochran, 214 Ga., App. 348, 447 S.E.2d 700 (1994)

Families First v. Gooden, 211 Ga. App. 272, 439 S.E.2d 34 (1993) (Amicus)

H.C.S. v. Grebel, 253 Ga. 404, 321 S.E.2d 321 (1984) (Amicus)

H.C.S. v. Grebel, 172 Ga.App. 819, 325 S.E.2d 925 Ga.App. 1984. (Amicus)

In re H.C.S., 170 Ga.App. 551, 318 S.E.2d 59, Ga.App.,1984. (Amicus)

In re Joseph Ryan Riggs, a Minor, 612 S.W.2d 461 (TN App 1980)

Wojciechowski v. Allen, 238 Ga. 556, 234 S.E.2d 325 (1977)

Duncan v. Harden, 234 Ga. 204, 214 S.E.2d 890 (Ga. 1975) (Amicus)