Irene Arfaras Steffas

Irene Arfaras Steffas

5.0
Rating: 9.1

Licensed for 41 years

Immigration Lawyer at Marietta, GA
Practice Areas: Immigration, Adoption

4343 Shallowford Road, H-1, Marietta, GA

About Irene

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Immigration 70%

41 years | 500 cases

70%
Adoption 30%

42 years | 500 cases

30%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 300-450 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Georgia for 31 years

State: Georgia

Acquired: 1994

Active Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in Florida for 41 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1984

Retired

No misconduct found

Licensed in Texas for 41 years

State: Texas

Acquired: 1984

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Irene Arfaras Steffas

4343 Shallowford Road, H-1, Marietta, GA, 30062

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Irene Arfaras Steffas's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

11 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (11) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by James | February 11, 2015 | Immigration

Excellent Immigration Servcies

I am returning to the States after 10 years of living abroad in Costa Rica. I am a US citizen but I am bringing my wife and daughter from Coast Rica with me. Irene is assisting us in this process. She has provided to date excellent services. She is extremely knowledgeable of the process and makes... us all feel at ease with her professional handling of our petitions. I would highly recommend Irene Steffas for your needs in the area of immigration.

Posted by MJ | January 27, 2015 | Adoption

The very BEST!!

My husband and I, in a very round about way, found ourselves embarking on a journey adoption from Sint Maarten, a country with no current path to adoption. We found out mid way through we needed to work through a Hague approved attorney or agency. There were no agencies working in Sint Maarten so we ...immediately started looking for an attorney. We are SO happy we were able to find Irene and her team. Irene was VERY frank from the get go. She didn't sugarcoat anything which we appreciated so much. We had been told this and that and were given false hope a lot throughout this process and were very discouraged, so to have someone so open and honest about the hurdles we would need to get through was so refreshing. Irene was able to outline all of the steps her team would take to see this through. She was open with the fact that it wasn't a sure deal, but that they would take steps to analyze the entire situation before moving us forward and would do anything in their power to help us adopt these boys. They have taken point on some of the paperwork and processes that were bogging us down and causing a lot of frustration, she and her team clearly know how to navigate the adoption legal system. They've always kept in tight communication throughout the entire process. I've never felt like I can't reach out to Irene directly if I had questions and she has always been so responsive (along with her team). Our adoption isn't complete yet, but things are looking good. I would absolutely recommend Irene to anyone who is looking to adopt, especially in a situation where you may be paving the way. It's clear she is passionate about her work and her clients and I will be ever grateful we made the choice to partner with her and her team in this process.

Posted by Jim | December 15, 2014 | Adoption

International adoption

The Steffas firm has been so great to work with in our adoptions. We have had very good service. The staff is professional, and very informative about all of the steps, documents and procedures needed to go through this stressful process. We love this firm!!!

Posted by Sue | December 09, 2014 | Adoption

Excellent Service

We used Irene Steffas and her team to fulfil the adoption of our grandson, through the Hague Adoption process. We live in the USA, and our grandson was born in the UK. The whole International adoption process is so complicated and involved, that we didn't even know what we didn't know! It takes a ...real team of experts to navigate through the process. Irene, Jyotika and Beatriz were our contacts at Steffas. They are incredibly knowledgeable, right up to date on the ever-changing process, pro-active, so helpful. Everyone involved in our case was on the same page - which was really great. Jyotika was our front-line contact. She was great about keeping us up to date on progress, answering all our many questions, very quick to respond to phone calls and e-mails, and several times she talked us through the longest, darkest hours, of a long, complicated and stressful process. Irene and her team were even in a position to educate the UK local authority, and UK attorney, on the Hague process. Without their knowledge and expertise, we're sure the process would have taken much longer. One of the best tools we had, was a binder, which Steffas provided us with. It contained documents and copies of everything we needed to finalize our application with the Embassy in London. Fabulous tool. The overall organization was awesome. We could not have been in better hands.

Posted by Wilhelmina | December 02, 2014 | Adoption

Great work

This office helped me to move forward when no one knew what to do. In the hardest moment when the outgoing country didn't how to move forward, trust was given in Irene. That helped to proceed with the adoption procedure.

See All Client Reviews

Irene Arfaras Steffas's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Irene
Randall Bruce Hicks headshot
Randall Hicks

Adoption lawyer | Sep 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Although I'm in a different state, an adoption attorney myself I knew Irene was one of the country's leading intercountry adoption experts - an area in which we "domestic" attorneys are often somewhat ignorant. Her excellent reputation extends well outside her home state. Irene was full of wisdom and helpful assistance to me in revising an adoption book I was writing in the chapter on intercountry adoption. Irene is the best."

Martha Maria Garcia headshot
Martha Garcia

Adoption lawyer | Feb 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I had the pleasure of working with Irene in a very complicated matter. With her advice and expert opinion regarding international adoption, we were successful in obtaining a positive outcome for our client."

Michael Christian Urbina-Pabon headshot
Michael Urbina-Pabon

Immigration lawyer | Dec 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. She is a very knowledgeable attorney who cares deeply for her clients."

Josie Redwine headshot
Josie Redwine

Immigration lawyer | Nov 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Irene's knowledge of immigration and adoption law is unsurpassed."

Misty Fields headshot
Misty Fields

Adoption lawyer | Jun 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. She is a dedicated and passionate attorney who knows the law exceptionally well."

Geoffrey Alan Hoffman headshot
Geoffrey Hoffman

Immigration lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I sought out Irene on a very complicated immigration-related adoption matter and also Hague Convention case. She was excellent and helped tremendously with her expertise . A great attorney and expert."

Evan Matthew Oshan headshot
Evan Oshan

Adoption lawyer | Jan 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. A compassionate attorney."

Grace Ruth Kennedy headshot
Grace Kennedy

Immigration lawyer | Jan 23

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"The adoption queen!"

Howard M Lewis headshot
Howard Lewis

Immigration lawyer | Dec 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Stefffas is an outstanding attorney with an exceptional reputation. She is a strong and zealous advocate for her clients and a credit to the legal profession. I highly recommend her legal services."

Jenny Lee Womack headshot
Jenny Womack

Adoption lawyer | Oct 02

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Ms. Steffas for several years and even though I am in Texas, she is the one I call when I have international adoption questions, especially if they involve the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. She is incredibly knowledgable and a wonderful person."

Toni Maschler headshot
Toni Maschler

Immigration lawyer | Sep 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. She has particular expertise in international adoption matters."

Tracie Lynn Morgan headshot
Tracie Morgan

Immigration lawyer | Sep 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Irene is a national expert on issues regarding children and immigration - especially in the adoption arena. We are lucky to have her in the Atlanta area!"

Maria Kazouris headshot
Maria Kazouris

Adoption lawyer | May 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Margaret D. Stock headshot
Margaret Stock

Immigration lawyer

Tracie Lynn Morgan headshot
Tracie Morgan

Immigration lawyer

Timothy A. Provis headshot
Timothy Provis

Adoption lawyer

Marshall Lewis Cohen headshot
Marshall Cohen

Immigration lawyer

Bonnie M. Youn headshot
Bonnie Youn

Immigration lawyer

F. J. Capriotti III headshot
F. Capriotti

Immigration lawyer

Maria Kazouris headshot
Maria Kazouris

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.1 (Superb)

Honors

2007

Angel in Adoption, Congressional Coalition Adoption Institute

2004

President's Award, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Work Experience

2009 - Present

Approved Person - Incoming & Outgoing, Steffas & Associates, P.C.

2007 - Present

Attorney, Steffast & Associates, PC

1995 - 2007

Attorney, Irene Steffas, P.C.

1986 - 1995

Attorney, Irene M Arfaras, PA

1984 - 1986

Associate, Krug, Berman & Silverman

Associations

2015 - Present

Florida Council on Adoption

member

2010 - Present

Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers

founding member

1994 - Present

State Bar of Georgia

Attorney Member

1993 - Present

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Fellow

1987 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association (Georgia chapter)

Attorney Member

1984 - Present

Florida Bar

Federal Bar Association

Member

1984 - 1994

State Bar of Texas

Attorney Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Breach of Duty of Candor

NBC accepts our response and approves case

In re Adoption of D.J.F.M., 643 S.E.2d 879, 284 Ga. App. 420 (Ga. App., 2007)

Case was reversed and remanded to trial court in favor of Petitioners.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1983

S. Texas College of Law

law

Speaking Engagements

2019

Annual Conference

Citizenship for Children born abroad

2013

Webinar on Children's Immigration

Intercountry Adoptions & Hague Convention

2013

GA-AL AILA conference

Avoiding Heart Break in adoptions by relatives

2012

Spring Conference of AILA

Intercountry Adoptions & Immigration

2012

Immigration Issues

Intercountry Adoption

2012

AILA's Annual Conference

The Grand Ol Orphan and Other Adoptions

2009

Meeting with Kygyzstan's Senators

US Safeguards to Intercountry Adoptions

2007

Human Rights Hearings by Kazakhstan Ombudsman

Intercountry Adoptions

2006

US Implementation of the Hague Convention

Intercountry Adoptions: US perspective

2003

World Congress on Adoption

US Intercountry Adoptions

Publications

2008

The Int'l Adoption Sourcebook Intercountry Adoptions

2004

Adoption Law: Practice & Procedure for 21st Century Federal Laws & Regulations Governing Intercountry Adoptions

Languages

Greek

Activity

Avvo Rating

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