Helen Tanos Hope was a lawyer that handled many of the private adoptions in FL, from the 60's to early 90's. Most of these children were born in South Florida from the Keys to the West Palm Beach area (though there have been adoptions reported through-out the state.) Many (not all) of these children were placed with Jewish families in the NY/NJ area. Some of the adoptions were finalized in Mexico, in an effort to hasten things or to protect the privacy of the adoptive families.

Helen Hope is now deceased,  dying of cancer under an assumed name in Gainesville, FL.

Her adoption records, which were found in a dumpster after her death, were placed in the possession of another attorney:

It has been reported of late,  that those records have since been turned over to the Florida Department of Children & Families.

Though there is much talk of Helen Tanos Hope being involved in "black market" adoptions,  it seems this may be highly exaggerated.    I have yet to hear one incidence where those accusations were confirmed.   While some of the adoptions she was involved in were in fact what most would consider shady,  in most instances they fell just inside the law.   The "Hope" birth mother's and adoptees that I know all had accurate information.   NONE of the DOB's had been changed.

In all the cases that have come through this registry (as well as across my desk)it appears Helen Tanos Hope kept records of non-id, and filed the appropriate papers with the courts. Even when it would have profited her the most to operate outside of the law (i.e. her daughter's adoption), non-id and a paper trail was available, and her daughter has since been reunited.

That being said,  it must be pointed out that there is a vast difference between illegal and unethical practices when it comes to adoption.   Very few would consider those "selling" babies to the highest bidder to be operating on high moral ground.   The records seem to indicate that that is the realm that Helen Tanos Hope (and her associates) operated in.  

Cole Baby Registry
Adoptees born in Miami 1927-1967
Adopted through Katherine Cole, Ruby Sutera, or Ephrain Suarez
(The Suarez Clinic)

Research On Black Market Babies

Adoption Fraud

E-MAIL SUPPORT GROUPS

Helen Tanos Hope Adoptions

Hope For Us

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