International Re-Adoption:

What Is International Re-Adoption?

When a child is adopted from another country you must “re-adopt” the child under the laws of the state the adoptive couple reside in order to obtain a U.S. birth certificate.

Foreign Adoption

Most families that adopt a child internationally do so through an agency.  The child is adopted in the foreign country.  Upon return to the US, the child is re-adopted under the laws of the state of the adoptive couple.  Both Washington and Idaho recognize foreign adoption decrees and have a legal process to re-adopt under state law. 

Foreign Guardianship

In some countries the parental rights are terminated but the child is placed with the adopting family under a guardianship. Courts in Washington and Idaho will recognize the termination orders of the foreign country and confirm the adoption.

International Private Adoption

It is also possible to privately adopt a child from a foreign country. A pre-placement report is still required and must be obtained from a caseworker who is associated with a Hague Adoption Convention approved child placement agency licensed in the United States.

Hague Adoption Convention

The Hague Adoption Convention is an international agreement to establish safeguards to assure that inter country adoptions take place in the best interests of the child.  The United States joined the Hague Adoption Convention in April 2008.

If the child is from a country that has not adopted the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention it may be necessary to take additional steps before a child can be adopted in the United States. It may be necessary, for instance, to take additional steps and receive the permission of the Hague Adoption Convention country before a child can be adopted in the United States.

Even if the child is not born in a Hague Adoption Convention country, it is necessary to receive a home study from a Hague accredited child placing agency licensed to practice in the state of the adoptive parents.

What Is The Benefit Of Re-Adopting a Child?

A re-adoption is necessary to obtain a U.S. birth certificate.         

Can The Age Of The Child Be Changed?

Yes. The child’s age can be changed in a re-adoption.  In situations where it becomes clear that the age of the child born in a foreign country in inaccurate, it is possible to change the age of the child in a decree of re-adoption.  A dentist can determine a child’s age by examining the child’s teeth; a medical provider can also determine a child’s age by reviewing a bone scan.  If the dentist or medical provider makes such a determination, evidence is presented to court and the child’s age is changed in the decree.