Sunday, March 06, 2005
YOU can help adoptive families in Tennessee
Sometimes people ask me if there is anything they can do to help us with our adoption plans. If you're reading this and you live in Tennessee, you can write to your state senator and representative in support of two bills (SB1351 and HB1869) that would allow for a streamlined adoption recognition process in Tennessee.
These bills would allow for internationally adopted children to obtain a state issued birth certificate without being required to complete a readoption. This is GREAT news as a readoption can run anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 in legal fees. (On top of all of the other fees associated with the adoption.) A birth certificate costs only $27. Currently, readoption is the only way to get a birth certificate for the baby (because our children have been abandoned--there are no birth certificates). Although we will get an adoption certificate, Tennessee law requires a birth certificate to enroll in school, therefore, you must readopt the foreign born child in Tennessee to get her in school!
By the way, these bills have NO COST (no fiscal notes) to the taxpayers and one is sponsored by a Democrat and one is sponsored by a Republican! Please click on the links above to read about the International Adoption Bills, then write a letter, make a phone call, do what you can to help get these bills passed!
These bills would allow for internationally adopted children to obtain a state issued birth certificate without being required to complete a readoption. This is GREAT news as a readoption can run anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 in legal fees. (On top of all of the other fees associated with the adoption.) A birth certificate costs only $27. Currently, readoption is the only way to get a birth certificate for the baby (because our children have been abandoned--there are no birth certificates). Although we will get an adoption certificate, Tennessee law requires a birth certificate to enroll in school, therefore, you must readopt the foreign born child in Tennessee to get her in school!
By the way, these bills have NO COST (no fiscal notes) to the taxpayers and one is sponsored by a Democrat and one is sponsored by a Republican! Please click on the links above to read about the International Adoption Bills, then write a letter, make a phone call, do what you can to help get these bills passed!
# posted by JDonnals : 3:26 PM
