There are three basic things that you will need to finalize an international adoption.
- 1) Final Decree of Adoption from State Court
- Most counties in Alabama process the Final Decree of Adoption through the Probate Court. The whole process takes about 60 days. The court will usually require the adoptive parents to provide the Foreign Adoption Decree, foreign birth certificate, their Marriage License, and several other miscellaneous forms.
- 2) New state-issued birth certificate
- This is the document that will probably save you and your adopted child the most hassle over the coming years. Many schools and government agencies require a state-issued birth certificate for every day processing.The cost to acquire a new state-issued birth certificate is around $25.00 and should be sought in conjunction with the Final Decree of Adoption from the State Court.
- 3) New Social Security number and card
- For detailed instructions, visit: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm.Generally, you will simply need to visit the Social Security Office (SSO) nearest you with the appropriate documentation. The SSO will need documentation to verify three different things: 1) U.S. citizenship; 2) Age; and 3) Identity.
For your child’s U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Birth Certificate or U.S. consular report of birth will be sufficient.
For your child’s age, their birth certificate or passport will be sufficient.
For your child’s identity, the adoption decree or hospital record will be sufficient.
For more information on appropriate documentation, visit: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10023.html.
Contact The Adoption Law Firm for counsel and legal representation.
- Photo by Beatrice Murch.
