Legal Question in Family Law in New York
International adoption
Does NY state require a re-adoption? We adopted my daughter from Guatemala in 2001 and I am trying to get a passport for her and they told me I need a court certified letter stating re adoption is not required in NY and a photo copy of stature
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: International adoption
In New York, there is no statutory law requiring a re-adoption. However, it
is highly recommended to ensure the validity of your adoption overseas and
to have U.S. adoption papers including a U.S. birth certificate. In some
countries, such as Korea, the adoptive parents are only granted guardianship
rights so the child must be formally adopted in the U.S. My understanding
is that the adoption is finalized in Guatemala and a re-adoption is not
required in New York, but of course, I do not have all the facts of your
particular case. Also there are certain situations, (such as if this is a
two parent adoption and only one parent was able to travel to the foreign
country for the adoption), where further action is required.
I am an adoption attorney in New York with my own practice. I do domestic,
foster care, and international adoptions. I have experience with re-adoptions from Guatemala. My fees are very reasonable and
are arranged as a flat fee according to one's income. Again, the
re-adoption in New York is highly recommended for documentation purposes and
to prevent any question about the legality of your overseas adoption.
Please contact me if I can help you with this process or if you have any
other questions or concerns. I would be happy to help and my initial
consultation is free if you want to meet just to further discuss the details
of the re-adoption process.
Very truly yours,
Maria Bucci-Orozco, Esq.
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas-7th Floor
New York, New York 10020
Email: [email protected]
www.newyorkadoptionlaw.com