Adoption is a transformational experience for everyone involved. Ask any adoptive parent, and they’ll explain how rewarding the process is. But to get there, you must jump through several legal hoops.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the many adoption documents you’ll need during the application process. We cover child, adult, and intercountry adoption, providing examples of adoption papers throughout.
Table of Contents
List of Documents for Adoption
Acquiring adoption paperwork can be daunting, regardless of whether you’re a first-time adopter or doing an open adoption. In this section, we list the real adoption papers required in the US.
Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree
The first document relates to your marital status. You must provide a certified copy of a marriage certificate or divorce decree to adopt a baby or infant. You can obtain this through your local state agency that deals with vital statistics, filled out by the state. A divorce decree is especially relevant in step-parent adoptions. These adoption certificates do not expire.
Birth Certificates of the Adoptive Parents and Child
You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate, your partner’s (if applicable), and the adoptee’s. It includes details like date of birth, location of the hospital where the birth took place, and given names. Again, you can obtain this document from your state agency that handles vital statistics. There is no expiration date for birth certificates.
Financial Statement
Most states require financial statements demonstrating income, savings, and assets. Contact your bank to obtain these.
Employer’s Letter
You may need several letters of recommendation for adoption, including one from each adoptive parent’s employer. Either you or your employer can write the letter, but it must be signed by your employer. This simply attests to your character and states that you are fit to be an adoptive parent.
Medical Letters
Contact your doctor to obtain letters attesting to your mental and physical health. Your doctor or a medical professional will complete this form and send it back to you. You may need to get a new letter if you suffer from any further conditions after it has been completed.
Police Reports
You will also need a criminal background check, which can be obtained via your local police station. You must show a police report for every state and country you have lived in. You will pay a small fee (state dependent) and receive an official check completed by the relevant authority.
Home Study
The home study is an evaluation conducted by the adoption agency or a social worker to assess your home environment. Arrange an appointment with a qualified assessor through your child placement agency. The evaluation will examine whether your home—and every occupant—can provide a stable environment for an adoptee.
Adoption Records
If you have previously adopted, you must provide the appropriate records. These include:
- Certificate of Adoption
- Adoption Petition
- New Birth Certificate
- Decree of Adoption
You can obtain copies of these documents from your state’s family court.
Adopt International Documents
If you’re looking to adopt from abroad, certain documents may be in a different language than your home country’s. To ensure full legal compliance, you must find a translator for these documents. RapidTranslate provides fast and reliable adoption documents translation for international cases.
Approval Notice From INS
You must download and fill out Form I-800A to determine your suitability for international adoption. The INS will then approve your application, and you can begin to complete and submit the remaining adoption documents.
Passports
You will need valid passports for all parties involved in international adoptions. You can obtain a passport from your local passport acceptance facility in the US.
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Forms
There are around 10 INS documents that you must fill out. You can download the adoption papers templates from the USCIS or US Department of State websites. These forms include applications for international adoption, such as the Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.
Adoption Papers for an Adult
Wondering how to get adoption papers for adults? This section details the forms and documents required for adult adoptions.
Adoption Petition
For adult adoptions, you must complete an adoption petition. You can obtain this by downloading it from the US Department of State website or by contacting your adoption agency. It contains details on the adoptive parents, the adoptee, the relationship between them, and the reasons for adoption.
Consent Forms
For adoptions of adults and children over 14 years, you must fill out a consent form. This is a statement signed by all parties involved explicitly stating everyone’s agreement with the process.
Proof of Relationship
Proof of relationship is typically conveyed within the adoption petition. In this adoption form, you will demonstrate the relationship between the adoptee and the adoptive parents. All parties will sign their consent to this.
How To Get Adoption Papers
You can acquire adoption forms by contacting the relevant authorizing body. This will differ between documents and whether you’re adopting domestically vs internationally. For example, you can obtain a police check through your local police station. If in doubt, contact your adoption agency or attorney for guidelines on where to find each adoption paper.
Once you’ve collected and submitted every relevant document, you’ll sign and receive an adoption agreement form. You can view an example of this below to see what adoption papers look like.
Adopting a child or an adult can be one of the most rewarding journeys in life, but navigating the paperwork doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When it comes to international adoption, ensuring every document is properly translated is critical to avoid delays or legal issues. That’s where Rapid Translate comes in. Our fast, accurate, and professional translation services are tailored to adoption documents, ensuring full compliance with legal requirements.
Don’t let language barriers slow your adoption process. Order a translation now with Rapid Translate and take the next step toward completing your family!
FAQs
Where can I get a copy of adoption papers?
You can get a copy of your adoption papers through your local family court or country clerk. Ensure the copy is certified with the appropriate stamp or embossed seal.
How much are adoption papers?
Adult and child adoption papers vary in cost depending on your state. Certain documents are free to obtain, particularly if you already have them in your possession. Others, such as police checks, require a small fee.
How do I notarize adoption papers?
You must notarize adoption papers to ensure they are official and legally compliant. To do this, contact an attorney or a specialized company that is qualified to notarize adoption papers.
How do you get adoption papers for a step dad?
To become an adoptive step-parent, you must obtain and complete several adoption documents. These include the adoption petition, consent forms, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police reports, and a letter of reference from your employer
