Bringing a child home through international adoption is an extraordinary act of love, perseverance, and commitment. But once the excitement settles, there are crucial legal steps that adoptive parents must take to ensure their child’s rights and identity are fully protected in the United States. One of the most important—but sometimes overlooked—steps is readoption.
Readoption provides essential legal, practical, and long-term benefits—especially when it comes to obtaining key documents such as a state-issued birth certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, and a U.S. passport.
What Is Readoption?
Readoption is a legal process where a state court either re-adopts or formally recognizes a foreign adoption decree. This process varies by state, and whether it is required often depends on the type of visa under which the child entered the U.S. Even where it is not required, it is recommended in every case of international adoption.
Why Is Readoption Important?
1. Obtaining a State-Issued Birth Certificate
A state-issued birth certificate in English simplifies everything from school registration to driver’s licenses. Without it, a child may face bureaucratic roadblocks throughout life. Foreign birth certificates can be hard to use for official purposes. Readoption allows parents to obtain a North Carolina Certificate of Foreign Birth, which:
- Lists the adoptive parents
- Is issued in English
- Serves as a standardized, state-recognized identity document
2. Securing a Certificate of Citizenship
This is the gold standard proof of U.S. citizenship. Readoption helps clarify identity, resolve any name inconsistencies, and support your application to USCIS. Even children who automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under federal law often struggle to prove it. This is not a time for uncertainty of status for a child.
3. Obtaining a U.S. Passport
A U.S. passport is also proof of citizenship, but to get one, you must first prove entitlement to citizenship. Readoption provides the necessary U.S. legal documentation that aligns your child’s identity, name, and parentage for a smoother application process. A U.S. court decree from readoption often makes the process smoother and faster.
North Carolina law provides one of the most streamlined paths for recognizing foreign adoptions and completing readoption. Adoptive families in the state benefit from simplified procedures designed to honor the integrity of the original foreign adoption while making it easier to establish a solid legal footing in the U.S.
Highlights of NC’s streamlined process include:
- No new home study required
- No additional background checks or post-placement reports
- Recognition can often be completed with minimal documentation, such as:
- Certified copy of the foreign adoption decree (with English translation)
- Child’s visa and foreign birth certificate
- Proof of lawful entry into the U.S.
If the foreign adoption meets the standards of U.S. immigration law and the adoption was finalized abroad, North Carolina courts can issue a simple recognition order affirming the legal parent-child relationship. Parents can also request a legal name change and apply for a North Carolina Certificate of Foreign Birth through the state’s Vital Records office.
Readoption in NC also allows parents to request a name change for their child and solidify parental rights under U.S. jurisdiction, creating a legally seamless record that is enforceable across the country.
International adoption is only the beginning. Readoption is a crucial step that ensures your child is fully protected, legally secure, and clearly recognized as your child in every sense. Don’t leave your child’s legal identity or citizenship to chance. The process in North Carolina is efficient, compassionate, and designed to give families confidence and security.