Difference between revisions of "Adoption: Where Do I Start?: Step 6: File Necessary Legal Documents"
(Created page with "''This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway'' ==Step 6: File Necessary Legal Documents== ====What You Should Know==== All domestic adopt...") |
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====What You Should Know==== | ====What You Should Know==== | ||
− | All [[domestic]] adoptions need to be finalized in court. The process varies from State to State. Generally a child must have lived with the adoptive family for at least 6 months before the adoption can be legally finalized. During this time, a [[Social Worker|social worker]] may visit several times to ensure the child is well cared for and to write up the required court reports. After this period, the agency (or attorney in an independent adoption) will submit a written recommendation of approval of the adoption to the court. You or your attorney can then file with the court | + | All [[domestic]] adoptions need to be finalized in court. The process varies from State to State. Generally a child must have lived with the adoptive family for at least 6 months before the [[adoption]] can be legally finalized. During this time, a [[Social Worker|social worker]] may visit several times to ensure the child is well cared for and to write up the required court reports. After this period, the agency (or attorney in an independent [[adoption]]) will submit a written recommendation of approval of the [[adoption]] to the court. You or your attorney can then file with the court |
− | to complete the adoption. | + | to complete the [[adoption]]. |
− | For intercountry adoptions, the actual adoption procedure is just one of a series of required legal [[processes]]. In addition to the laws of your State, you must also follow the laws of the child’s country of origin and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements (see http://www.uscis.gov). If you [[adopt]] from a country that participates in the Hague Convention, the process carries further requirements to safeguard the parties involved. The process to finalize the adoption depends on the type of intercountry adoption, the type of visa the child has, and the laws in your State. | + | For intercountry adoptions, the actual [[adoption]] procedure is just one of a series of required legal [[processes]]. In addition to the laws of your State, you must also follow the laws of the child’s country of origin and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements (see http://www.uscis.gov). If you [[adopt]] from a country that participates in the Hague Convention, the process carries further requirements to safeguard the parties involved. The process to finalize the [[adoption]] depends on the type of intercountry [[adoption]], the type of visa the child has, and the laws in your State. |
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*Information Gateway publishes resource lists of links to photolisting services in each State: | *Information Gateway publishes resource lists of links to photolisting services in each State: | ||
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*State [[Adoption Photolisting]] Services Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?rs_id=19&rate_chno=AZ-0005E | *State [[Adoption Photolisting]] Services Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?rs_id=19&rate_chno=AZ-0005E | ||
− | *State Adoption Exchange Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?typeID=81&rate_chno=AZ-0003E | + | *State [[Adoption]] Exchange Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?typeID=81&rate_chno=AZ-0003E |
====Some Places to Go==== | ====Some Places to Go==== | ||
− | The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory provides an attorney referral service for each State: http://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad | + | The National Foster Care & [[Adoption]] Directory provides an attorney referral service for each State: http://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad |
Two Information Gateway factsheets provide more information about finalization of intercountry adoptions: | Two Information Gateway factsheets provide more information about finalization of intercountry adoptions: | ||
− | *Intercountry Adoption: Where Do I Start?: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_inter | + | *Intercountry [[Adoption]]: Where Do I Start?: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_inter |
− | *Intercountry Adoption From Hague Convention and Non-Hague Convention Countries: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/hague.cfm | + | *Intercountry [[Adoption]] From Hague Convention and Non-Hague Convention Countries: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/hague.cfm |
Latest revision as of 13:58, 15 November 2017
This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway
Contents
Step 6: File Necessary Legal Documents
What You Should Know
All domestic adoptions need to be finalized in court. The process varies from State to State. Generally a child must have lived with the adoptive family for at least 6 months before the adoption can be legally finalized. During this time, a social worker may visit several times to ensure the child is well cared for and to write up the required court reports. After this period, the agency (or attorney in an independent adoption) will submit a written recommendation of approval of the adoption to the court. You or your attorney can then file with the court to complete the adoption.
For intercountry adoptions, the actual adoption procedure is just one of a series of required legal processes. In addition to the laws of your State, you must also follow the laws of the child’s country of origin and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements (see http://www.uscis.gov). If you adopt from a country that participates in the Hague Convention, the process carries further requirements to safeguard the parties involved. The process to finalize the adoption depends on the type of intercountry adoption, the type of visa the child has, and the laws in your State.
- Information Gateway publishes resource lists of links to photolisting services in each State:
- State Adoption Photolisting Services Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?rs_id=19&rate_chno=AZ-0005E
- State Adoption Exchange Websites: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?typeID=81&rate_chno=AZ-0003E
Some Places to Go
The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory provides an attorney referral service for each State: http://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad
Two Information Gateway factsheets provide more information about finalization of intercountry adoptions:
- Intercountry Adoption: Where Do I Start?: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_inter
- Intercountry Adoption From Hague Convention and Non-Hague Convention Countries: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/hague.cfm
Continue to Adoption: Where Do I Start?: Step 7: Parent Your Child
Resource
Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_start.cfm