Alabama’s new international adoption law, Karina’s Law, is planned to go into effect on January 1, 2013. Karina’s Law will streamline the process for obtaining a US birth certificate for many international adoptees in Alabama.
After discussing the new law with Ashley Yeager of Lifeline Children’s Services, it appears that Karina’s Law will help adoptees from 12 of the 14 countries they serve. While each individual case may vary, adoptions from the following countries can expect to benefit from the new streamlined process in January:
- Bulgaria
- China
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Hungary
- Peru
- Poland
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
The following countries will ordinarily not benefit from Karina’s Law:
- Congo
- Uganda
For more information on Karina’s Law, see the blog, New International Adoption Law for Alabama!
For more information on Lifeline’s international adoption program, see their Quick Look fact sheet.
