READOPTION and ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGN ADOPTION IN INDIANA

Depending upon your child's country of origin, you will 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 with the Court. These documents request that the Court issue an Order accepting the foreign adoption as if it had taken place in your state of residence. Once ordered the Foreign Decree will be recorded and the child will receive all of the rights that would be afforded to a child adopted in your state of residence. In other words, the Foreign Decree is given Full Faith & Credit in your state of residence. The most important aspect of this process is that the Decree orders the State Health Department to issue a domestic Birth Certificate. It will also provide 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.

Readoptions are governed by state law. MLJ Adoptions, Inc. can provide readoptions for Indiana families only. If you are not located in Indiana, you will need to contact an attorney in your state to complete the readoption process. 

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.