News: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER – Alabama Online Dispute Resolution
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
On January 18, 2022, the Supreme Court of Alabama issued an order establishing the Online Dispute Resolution for Small Claims Cases pilot project and included the Rules Regarding the Online Dispute Resolution for Small Claims Cases.[1] Morgan County will be the first pilot county.[2] Other counties that want to be added to the pilot project may be at the discretion of the Administrative Director of Courts.[3] As of May 2022, it is also live in Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Colbert, Etowah, Geneva, Greene, Lee, Madison, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Washington counties.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER – Lessons of the Boll Weevil: A Story of Prosperity from Bugs to Flying Machines
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
This article discusses the founding and development of Fort Rucker, Alabama and its contribution to the prosperity of Enterprise and the entire Wiregrass region. It recognizes the vision of local, state, and national leaders who championed the development of a military base in southeast Alabama, which is now known as the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: The Ukrainian Orphan Crisis and Refugee Adoption
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Susan M. Brown
The war between Russia and Ukraine presents a crisis for many children. This article, while written almost entirely before the onset of Russia’s war against Ukraine, may have life-saving application for clients to partner with orphan-care advocates seeking to bring these orphans into stable and safe American homes.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Stepparent Adoptions
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Joshua B. Horn
Stepparent adoptions are the most common form of adoption filed in Alabama. With divorce rates at more than 50 percent, it is common for adults to help raise their spouse’s children. The Alabama adoption code streamlines stepparent adoptions. These stepparent adoptions are governed by Ala. Code § 26-10A-27, and with a little research, they can be handled easily by attorneys who do not specialize in family adoption law.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Representing Foster Parents in Adoptions
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Samuel J. McLure
Many foster parents lack the tools and knowledge to advocate for the best interests of the child in their care. All foster parents have to go through a Trauma Informed Parenting for Permanency and Safety class (TIPS) where they learn that their role is to provide a temporary safe home for a child while the Department of Human Resources (DHR) works with parents to alleviate the underlying causes of dependency.
So, when a lawyer is consulted by foster parents who feel at odds with the system, what does that lawyer do?
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Interstate Adoptions
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Jared N. Lyles
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children act (the ICPC) was put into place to encourage the cooperation and communication between state authorities that are involved in the interstate placement of children in foster care or for adoption.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Counseling Adoptive Parents
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Susan M. Brown
As lawyers, we are called to be both advocates and counselors. Clients may come to you for help with legal filings about an adoption. But to advise them wisely, you should be sure they have realistic expectations about this most important decision. Here are a few basic considerations to help your clients make informed decisions.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: A Primer on Alabama Adoptions
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
By Jonathan A. Griffith
Many attorneys love the idea of connecting a loving family with a child in need of a forever home, but are intimidated by the adoption process. This article is designed to help those lawyers.
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Women Lawyers in the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
The Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame (AWHF) was stablished in 1970. It recognizes women native to or identified closely with Alabama who have made significant contributions on a state, national, or international level. Notable inductees include Helen Keller, Julia Tutwiler, Rosa Parks, Harper Lee, and Coretta Scott King. Of the 98 women in the AWHF, five were lawyers. Remarkably, when most became lawyers, women still could not vote or serve on a jury.[1]
Read More
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: The Susan B. Livingston Award
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
The Susan B. Livingston Leadership Award was established in 2016 by the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar to honor women lawyers in Alabama who reflect the values of Susan Bevill Livingston. Livingston practiced for 29 years at Balch & Bingham in Birmingham. She was a tireless advocate of mentoring. She also had a strong commitment to her community and volunteered for many civic opportunities, as well as being an outstanding leader in both her personal and professional life.
Read More