ABA Disaster Relief Web Portal Lets Lawyers Know How to Help Haitian Earthquake Victims

The ABA has assembled a collection of legal resources relevant to the Haiti earthquake at http://www.abanet.org/disaster/haiti.html for use by bar associations, lawyers and programs assisting those in need.

The web portal, which the North Carolina Bar Association named its Web Site of the Week, provides links and information on temporary protected status for Haitian nationals who have resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010.  It also offers information pertaining to children identified as needing care and children identified as orphans.

The portal also has links to information and applications for positions as lawyers, judges and court administrators for an anticipated legal reform project in Haiti und the ABA Rule of Law Initiative.

It also offers links to IRS information on guidance designating Haitian earthquake relief as a qualified disaster for federal tax purposes along with links to information on tax law and charity fraud.

The site is a work in progress and will grow as efforts increase. Suggestions for material to include in the Web site may be sent to the ABA at rhorowitz@staff.abanet.org.