READOPTION and ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGN ADOPTION IN INDIANA

Depending upon the country where you adopted, you may need to complete a Readoption or an Acceptance (domesticating) of Foreign Adoption. “Readoption" is the common term used for both processes, but in actuality you will likely just need an Acceptance of the Foreign Decree. Some countries (i.e. India and Philippines) require a full domestic adoption (readoption) here in the U.S. In addition, a full domestic adoption or readoption in the US may be necessary if your foreign documents are insufficient or is required based on your immigration status. However, most foreign adoption can be easily domesticated (given full credit or acceptance in the U.S) without a full domestic adoption and we term this an Acceptance.

For an Acceptance, a Petition for Filing of Foreign Decree and Order is filed. This requests the Court to make an Order stating that the Foreign Decree be recorded as an Indiana Adoption Decree and the child receive all of the rights that would be afforded to a child adopted in Indiana. In other words, the Foreign Decree is given Full Faith & Credit in Indiana. The most important aspect of this process is that the Decree orders the Indiana Health Deptartment to issue a new Indiana Birth Certificate. It will also provide the sufficient documentation for US citizenship for children brought home on an IR4 visa. Finally, an important aspect of the process of adoptions in some countries is the name change accomplished with the Petition. Often the Foreign Country’s Decrees did not have the name you wanted for your child; this name change can also be accomplished with the Readoption process.

Once all your information and paperwork is received, it will take 4-6 business days (unless out of the country on adoption trips) to send you the Petition and forms that you will need to complete and sign. After these have been received from you, it takes 5-10 business days to obtain the Court Order. After the Court Order is obtained, it will take approximately 90 days to get the new Indiana birth certificate from the Health Department; however, you can use the Court Order prior to receiving the birth certificate for most purposes (taxes, USCIS & SSN). A Petition, Order, Appearance and 2 Indiana Specific forms are filed with the Court. These are all provided for you with instructions.